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1 


THE  LIFE 


OF  THE 


Rev.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


ABRIDGED  FROM  ORME's  LIFE  OF  B.VXTER. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION. 

JAMES  BCSSELL,  PUBLISHING  AGENT. 

1840. 


Entered  according  to  the  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1840,  by  A.  W. 
Mitchell,  in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  District  Court  for  the 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


PHILADELPHIA. 
WILLIAM  S.  MARTIEN,  PRINTER. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


In  making  this  abridgement,  no  change 
has  been  made  in  the  facts,  as  stated  by  the 
original  author,  but  often  in  the  reflexions 
and  inferences  from  these  facts,  others  have 
been  substituted  in  the  place  of  those  made 
by  Mr.  Orme,  and  many  of  his  have  been 
entirely  omitted.  When  his  language  is 
used  to  any  extent,  notice  is  given  of  it  to 
the  reader,  and  marks  of  quotation  prefixed; 
but  often  in  condensing  the  narrative  his 
words  are  retained  without  any  particular 
ackno  wledgmen  t. 


LIFE  OF 


Rev.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


Richard  Baxter,  was  bom  in  the  county 
of  Salop,  Nov.  12th,  1615.  In  his  earliest 
years,  while  he  was  chargeable  with  faults 
common  to  children,  he  was  the  subject  of 
many  serious  impressions.  He  lived  for 
years  with  his  grandfather,  but  at  the  age  of 
ten  returned  to  the  house  of  his  father,  who 
then  resided  at  a  village  within  five  miles  of 
Shrewsbury.  He  was  extremely  unfortu- 
nate in  his  teachers,  some  of  whom  were 
shamefully  immoral,  and  others  incompetent; 
while  all  of  them  greatly  neglected  his  in- 
struction. He  also  missed  the  advantages  of 
a  University  education,  by  a  proposal  made 
to  his  parents  to  place  him  with  Mr.  Richard 
Wickstead,  chaplain  to  the  Council  at  Lud- 
low, with  whom  he  remained  above  a  year, 
and  then  returned  to  his  father.    After  this, 


6 


LIFE  OF  THE 


at  the  request  of  Lord  Newport,  he  went  to 
Wroxeter,  where  he  taught  in  the  free  school, 
for  six  months,  during  the  illness  of  one  of 
his  former  schoolmasters. 

When  he  had  reached  his  eighteenth  year, 
Mr.  Wickstead  prevailed  on  him  to  relin- 
quish his  studies,  and  seek  his  fortune  at 
court.  He  accordingly  went  to  Whitehall, 
with  a  recommendation  to  Sir  Henry  Her- 
bert, then  Master  of  the  Revels,  by  whom  he 
was  kindly  received.  But  after  a  month's 
attendance,  finding  the  kind  of  life  which  he 
must  there  live,  little  to  his  taste,  and  still 
feeUng  a  strong  inclination  to  the  holy  min- 
istry, he  returned  home,  and  resumed  his 
studies  with  great  diligence;  until  at  the  in- 
stance of  Sir  Richard  Foley,  he  was  made 
teacher  of  the  free  school  at  Dudley.  While 
in  this  situation  he  had  the  opportunity  of 
perusing  several  practical  treatises,  by  which 
means  he  was  brought  to  a  deep  sense  of 
rehgion.  This  seems  to  have  been  kept  up 
by  the  ill  state  of  health  in  which  he  then 
was;  for  he  had  the  impression,  that  he 
should  live  not  more  than  a  year.  Feeling 
now  a  strong  desire  to  be  useful  in  the  con- 
version of  sinners,  he  resolved  to  enter  on 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


7 


the  ministry,  and  applied  to  Dr.  Thornbo- 
rough,  Bishop  of  Worcester,  for  ordination. 
At  this  time  he  entertained  no  scruples  about 
conformity  to  the  Church  of  England.  But 
after  he  began  to  preach  at  Dudley,  he  be- 
came acquainted  with  several  non-confor- 
mists, who  put  into  his  hands  several  books 
in  favour  of  their  opinions,  and  among  the 
rest.  Dr.  Ames's  "  Fresh  Suit  against  Cere- 
monies." This  he  read  with  attention;  and 
it  was  the  first  means  of  changing  his  views, 
on  this  subject.  From  Dudley  he  removed 
to  Bridgenorth,  and  there  officiated  as  as- 
sistant to  Mr.  Mastard,  the  minister  of  the 
place,  who  treated  him  with  great  kindness 
and  respect,  and  did  not  press  upon  him  con- 
formity, in  those  points,  concerning  which  he 
now  entertained  scruples.  About  this  time, 
what  was  called  the  et  csettra  oath,  was  in- 
troduced, which  led  him  to  study  with  still 
more  attention  the  subject  of  conformity; 
and  the  result  was,  an  increased  dislike  of 
many  things  in  the  Church.  Though  not 
opposed  to  every  form  of  episcopacy,  he 
thought  it  very  unreasonable  to  take  it  for 
granted,  that  the  English  Church  was  so  im- 
maculate, as  to  justify  a  solemn  oath,  that  he 


8 


LIFE  OF  THE 


would  never  consent  to  have  it  altered.  He 
had  observed,  that  the  imposition  of  this 
oath,  which  was  designed  to  subject  the  na- 
tion unalterably  to  their  bishops,  produced 
the  effect  of  alienating  the  minds  of  many 
from  them,  much  more  than  they  had  been 
before. 

When  the  Long  Parliament  appointed  a 
committee  to  hear  complaints  against  scan- 
dalous and  incompetent  clergymen  ,  the  town 
of  Kidderminster,  in  Worcestershire,  drew 
up  a  petition  against  their  vicar,  Mr.  Danse, 
and  his  two  curates,  as  insufficient.  The 
living  was  then  worth  about  £200  per  an- 
num; and  the  vicar  as  a  compromise  with 
the  people,  offered  to  give  from  his  income 
£60,  to  any  person  who  might  be  chosen  by 
fourteen  trustees,  appointed  by  the  people. 
An  occasional  sermon  from  Mr.  Baxter  gave 
such  universal  satisfaction,  that  he  was  im- 
mediately called,  and  went  to  reside  at  Kid- 
derminster in  1640.  He  found  the  place  over- 
spread with  ignorance  and  profaneness;  but 
by  a  divine  blessing  on  his  faithful  labours,  a 
great  reformation  was  produced;  for  though 
at  first  he  met  with  much  opposition,  by 
^  perseverance  and  fidelity  in  the  discharge  of 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


9 


his  pastoral  duties,  extraordinary  success  at- 
tended his  labours,  in  the  conversion  of  many 
souls,  and  the  establishment  of  religion  in 
almost  every  family  of  the  place. 

In  the  civil  contest  between  the  king  and 
parliament,  Baxter  sided  with  the  latter,  in 
consequence  of  which,  he  was  obliged  to 
leave  Kidderminster;  for  the  rabble  became 
very  riotous,  and  their  fury  seems  to  have 
been  particularly  directed  against  him;  so 
that  his  life  was  in  danger.  His  friends, 
therefore,  advised  him  to  withdraw  for  a  sea- 
son from  the  scene  of  his  labours.  On  leav- 
ing Kidderminster,  he  went  to  Gloucester, 
where  he  found  the  people  civil  and  reli- 
gious; as  different  from  those  of  Kiddermin- 
ster, as  if  they  lived  under  a  different  govern- 
ment. Here  he  remained  for  a  month,  dur- 
ing which  short  period,  several  pamphlets 
were  published ;  and  public  disputation'^ 
were  held  by  the  ministers,  with  various 
sects,  and  particularly  with  the  Baptists. 

At  these  religious  tournaments,  the  victory 
was  commonly  claimed  by  both  parties;  but 
if  the  justice  of  the  cause  were  to  be  judged 
of  from  the  spirit  and  weapons  of  the  com- 
batants, it  would  have  been  granted  to 


10 


LIFE  OP  THE 


neither.  About  a  dozen  young  men  in  Glou- 
cester had  been  re-baptized,  and  laboured,  as 
was  very  natural,  to  draw  others  after  them. 
Mr.  Winnel,  the  minister  of  the  place,  wrote 
a  book  against  the  Baptists;  but  being  of  a 
hot  and  impatient  spirit,  he  rather  excited 
than  calmed  the  minds  of  the  people ;  and 
while  he  produced  little  effect  on  the  Baptists, 
he  brought  upon  himself  the  censure  of  the 
public  for  his  asperity  and  violence.  This 
was  the  commencement,  Baxter  says,  of 
much  evil  at  Gloucester. 

*  After  a  month's  absence  from  his  charge, 
his  friends  at  Kidderminster  solicited  his  re- 
turn; and  he  complied,  but  found  affairs  in  a 
state  little  better  than  when  he  went  away; 
for  the  fury  of  the  rabble  and  the  insolence  of 
the  King's  troops  were  such,  that  he  was 
again  forced  to  withdraw.  The  war  was 
now  in  active  operation  in  that  part  of  the 
country;  the  royal  forces  being  under  the 
command  of  Prince  Rupert,  and  the  Parlia- 
ment's under  the  Earl  of  Essex.  Upon  the 
Lord's  day,  October  23,  1642,  while  he  was 
preaching  for  his  friend,  Mr.  Samuel  Clark, 
at  Alcester,  it  became  evident  the  armies 
were  engaged,  for  the  report  of  cannon  was 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


11 


distinctly  heard  during  the  sermon.  This 
was  the  battle  of  Edgehill,  in  which  though 
botli  armies  suffered  much,  the  success  was 
not  decisive  on  either  side,  for  although 
Prince  Rupert  defeated  the  Earl  of  Essex's 
left  wing,  the  other  part  of  his  army  suffered 
a  defeat,  while  his  men  were  engaged  in 
plundering  the  wagons. 

Baxter  went  on  the  ground  next  morning, 
and  found  the  Earl  of  Essex  encamped  on 
the  field  of  battle,  and  the  King's  army  fa- 
cing them  on  a  hill  about  a  mile  off.  There 
were  about  a  thousand  dead  bodies  on  the 
field  between  them;  and  some,  he  supposes, 
had  been  already  buried.  But  neither  of  the 
armies  seemed  disposed  to  renew  the  con- 
flict, and  gradually  removed  from  each  other. 

Baxter  now  found  himself  in  an  embar- 
rassing situation.  Driven  from  his  home, 
and  destitute  of  money  and  friends,  he  knew 
not  whither  to  betake,  himself.  After  some 
consideration,  he  resolved  to  go  to  Coventry, 
where  an  old  acquaintance,  Mr.  Simon  King, 
was  minister.  Accordingly,  he  went  thither, 
and  remained  a  month;  but  there  appeared 
no  more  probability  of  a  termination  of  the 
war  now  than  before.    While  he  was  consi- 


12 


LIFE  OF  THE 


dering  what  course  he  should  pursue,  he 
received  an  invitation  from  the  governor  and 
committee  of  the  city,  to  remain  and  preach 
ta  the  soldiers.  This  suited  well  with  his 
present  urgent  necessities,  but  he  was  re- 
solved not  to  accept  a  commission  as  chap- 
lain to  a  regiment;  yet  he  was  willing  to 
preach  once  or  twice  a  week  to  the  garrison. 
Here  then,  he  took  up  his  abode  in  the  Go- 
vernor's house,  and  lived  in  as  much  quiet- 
ness as  if  it  had  been  a  time  of  peace ;  preach- 
ing to  the  soldiers  once  a  week,  and  once 
on  the  Lord's  day  to  the  people,  receiving 
nothing  from  either  but  his  food. 

The  war  having  spread  over  almost  every 
part  of  the  country,  and  great  agitation  and 
confusion  ensuing,  there  was  safety  scarcely 
any  where.  For  two  months  he  retired  from 
Coventry,  and  went  into  Shropshire;  and 
having  got  his  father  out  of  prison,  he  re- 
turned to  Coventry,  where  he  spent  another 
year  in  studying  the  Scriptures  and  preach- 
ing to  the  soldiers.  Among  his  hearers,  he 
informs  us,  there  were  many  godly  and  judi- 
cious persons.  There  were  also  at  Coventry, 
about  thirty  worthy  ministers,  who  had  taken 
refuge  there  from  the  popular  fury,  and  from 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


13 


the  brutal  insolence  of  the  soldiers,  though 
they  had  never  meddled  in  the  contest  which 
was  going  on. 

At  Coventry,  Mr.  Baxter  took  the  solemn 
league  and  covenant,  and  administered  it, to 
another,  of  which  he  afterwards  bitterly  re- 
pented. The  garrison  at  Coventry  consisted 
of  both  citizens  and  countrymen.  The  latter 
were  such  as  had  been  forced  from  their  own 
dwellings,  and  were  among  the  most  reli- 
gious persons  in  all  that  country.  A  few 
fanatical  persons  of  Sir  Henry  Vane's  party, 
who  had  come  over  from  New  England,  got 
into  the  garrison,  and  with  an  Anabaptist 
tailor,  greatly  disturbed  the  peace  of  the  gar- 
rison, by  infecting  the  honest  soldiers  with 
their  opinions;  but  they  were  not  so  success- 
ful here  as  in  Cromwell's  army.  Mr.  Baxter 
preached  in  public  on  the  Anabaptist  contro- 
versy, and  against  the  Separatists.  Some  of 
his  Worcester  friends,  and  even  some  of  the 
foot  soldiers  were  able,  he  informs  us,  to 
baffle  the  Separatists,  Anabaptists,  and  An- 
tinomians;  and  so  the  garrison  was  kept 
sound. 

The  Anabaptists  now  sent  for  one  Benja- 
min Cox,  an  old  minister  of  their  persuasion, 


14 


LIFE  OF  THE 


from  Bedford,  who  was  no  contemptible 
scholar,  and  with  whom  Baxter  had  much 
controversy,  first  by  word  of  mouth,  and 
afterwards  in  writing.  Cox  was  desired  to 
leave  the  city;  but  returning  again  he  was 
imprisoned.  Some  ascribed  this  to  Baxter, 
but  he  declares  that  he  had  nothing  to  do 
with  putting  him  in,  though  he  used  his  in- 
fluence to  get  him  out  of  prison. 

Naseby  being  not  far  from  Coventry,  he, 
upon  the  report  of  the  battle  and  victory  at 
that  place,  had  a  desire  to  go  over  and  see 
whether  some  of  his  dear  friends,  who  were 
in  Cromwell's  army,  were  dead  or  alive. 
Accordingly,  two  days  after  the  battle,  he 
went  and  saw  his  friends,  and  learned  many 
particulars  respecting  the  state  of  the  army. 
He  found  abundance  of  sober,  honest,  ortho- 
dox men  among  the  troopers  and  officers; 
others  were  tractable  and  ready  to  hear  the 
truth;  but  there  were  a  few  proud,  self-con- 
ceited, hot-headed  sectaries,  who  had  got 
into  the  high  places,  and  were  Cromwell's 
chief  favourites,  and  who  by  their  very  heat 
and  activity  bore  down  the  rest,  or  carried 
them  along  with  them.  These  were  the  soul 
of  the  army,  though  much  fewer  in  number 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


15 


than  the  rest,  being  indeed  not  one  to  twenty 
in  it.  Their  strength  was  in  Cromwell's, 
Whalley's,  and  Rich's  regiments  of  horse. 
These  men  were  resolved  to  put  down  king, 
nobles,  and  bishops.  Cromwell  and  his  coun- 
cil preferred  to  join  themselves  to  no  party, 
but  they  were  constantly  casting  odium  on 
the  Scots  and  the  Presbyterians.  Baxter  was 
now  convinced  that  all  was  lost,  by  the  sound 
ministers  forsaking  the  army,  and  leaving  it 
a  prey  to  fanatics.  At  first  every  regiment 
had  a  good  chaplain,  but  after  the  battle  of 
Edgehill  they  returned  home;  and  as  the 
sectaries  increased,  they  were  more  averse 
to  going  into  the  army.  He  also  blamed 
himself  for  refusing  an  invitation  from  Crom- 
well, who  intended  to  form  his  troop  into  a 
regular  church,  and  who,  in  their  name,  re- 
quested Baxter  to  be  their  pastor;  but  he 
reproved  them  for  their  design,  and  would 
not  comply  with  their  invitation.  Now  these 
very  men,  afterwards  became  the  leaders  of 
the  army,  and  some  of  them  were  active  in 
all  the  changes  which  took  place. 

About  this  time  he  was  again  invited  by 
Colonel  Whalley  to  join  the  army,  and  after 
consultation  with  the  ministers  at  Coventry, 


16 


LIFE  OF  THE 


he  consented  to  go;  but  the  Governor  and 
garrison  so  strenuously  opposed  it,  that  it 
was  with  difficulty  he  could  get  away.  After 
considerable  altercation,  and  after  parting 
with  his  friends  in  some  displeasure,  he  went 
to  Cromwell's  army.  When  he  arrived,  Oli- 
ver Cromwell  coolly  bade  him  welcome,  but 
never  afterwards  spoke  one  word  to  him,  or 
ever  gave  him  any  opportunity  of  meeting 
with  the  councils  and  officers;  so  that  his 
chief  purpose  in  joining  the  army  was  frus- 
trated. Cromwell's  secretary  gave  out,  jeer- 
ingly,  that  a  reformer  had  come  to  the  camp 
to  save  church  and  state.  Having  joined  the 
army,  however,  he  set  himself  to  find  out  the 
errors  of  the  soldiers,  and  to  argue  them  out 
of  their  mistakes.  His  Ufe  among  them  was 
spent  in  a  continual  contention  with  seducers, 
or  in  reasoning  gently  with  the  more  tract- 
able. A  spirit  of  disputation  on  religious 
points,  at  this  time  pervaded  the  army.  The 
opinion  which  he  found  most  prevalent,  and 
for  which  all  the  sectaries  contended  most 
strenuously,  was  religious  liberty,  or  the  right 
of  every  man  to  judge  for  himself  in  matters 
of  religion;  and  that  the  civil  magistrate 
ought  to  exercise  no  authority  over  matters 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


17 


of  faith,  but  should  leave  every  man  to  the 
liberty  of  worshipping  God  agreeably  to  the 
dictates  of  his  own  conscience. 

Baxter's  indefatigable  zeal  led  him  to  seek 
an  acquaintance  with  the  leaders  of  the  sec- 
taries, who,  he  found,  were  old  separatists, 
proud,  self-conceited  men,  and  he  made  it 
his  object  to  expose  their  weakness  and  in- 
consistency. But  there  was  in  the  army  a 
more  dangerous  party  than  these;  those  who 
rejected  all  external  worship,  cried  down  the 
ministry,  spoke  against  the  translation  of  the 
Bible,  allowed  of  no  arguments  from  Scrip- 
ture but  in  express  words,  and  were  vehe- 
ment against  the  government  of  church  and 
state.  These  m.en  treated  Baxter  with  scorn; 
but  when  they  disputed  with  him,  they 
drowned  all  reason  in  fierceness,  vehemency, 
and  multitude  of  words.  They  greatly  strove 
for  places  of  power,  and  were  ready  to  mu- 
tiny when  important  places  were  given  to 
such  as  were  not  of  their  party.  These  were 
the  men  who  were  afterwards  called  Level- 
lers, who  rose  up  against  Cromwell,  and 
were  surprised  at  Burford,and  were  entirely 
defeated  and  scattered.  Thompson,  their 
2 


18 


LIFE  OF  THE 


general,  had  been  a  corporal  in  Bethel's 
troop. 

No  man  could  have  been  better  adapted 
to  the  place  which  he  occupied  than  Baxter. 
His  extraordinary  talents,  his  versatility  of 
mind,  and  his  fondness  for  disputation,  sin- 
gularly qualified  him  for  the  work  which 
he  had  now  to  perform.  Probably  such  an 
army  as  that  of  the  Parliament,  the  world 
never  saw.  Baxter  attempts  to  account  for 
the  spirit  with  which  they  were  actuated,  and 
attributes  it  to  a  few  leading  characters;  but 
the  causes  were  various  and  manifold.  His 
attempts  to  check  the  progress  of  error,  fana- 
ticism and  anarchy,  were  as  ineffectual  as 
would  be  attempts  to  check  a  volcano,  by 
throwing  stones  into  the  crater.  The  mate- 
rials for  the  tempest  which  now  burst  upon 
the  land,  had  been  long  gathering  and  pre- 
paring in  secret;  and  although,  for  a  while, 
it  spread  desolation  and  dismay  all  around, 
yet  it  cleared  the  atmosphere,  political  and 
religious;  so  that  it  has  been  rendered  more 
salubrious  for  Christians  and  freemen. 

About  this  time  a  strange  report  was 
circulated  against  Baxter;  as  that  he  had 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


19 


murdered  a  man  in  cold  blood;  or,  that  he 
was  present  when  one  Lieutenant  Hurdman 
inhumanly  ran  a  certain  Major  Jennings 
through  the  body,  and  that  he  took  from  his 
neck  the  king's  picture;  and  while  he  was 
swimming  in  his  gore,  told  him  he  was  a 
popish  rogue,  and  the  like.  To  which  Bax- 
ter answered,  "  I  solemnly  protest,  that  to 
my  knowledge,  I  never  saw  Major  Jennings; 
that  I  never  saw  the  man  wound  or  touch 
him,"  &c. 

For  two  years  he  accompanied  the  army 
in  its  various  movements,  but  was  able  to 
accomplish  little  in  the  way  which  he  had 
contemplated,  when  he  joined  himself  to  it. 
Thus  disappointed  in  his  expectation  of  use- 
fulness, and  with  his  health  much  impaired, 
he  found  it  necessary  to  withdraw  from  a 
station  so  arduous.  The  people  of  Kidder- 
minster, moreover,  having  renewed  their 
complaint  against  their  old  vicar,  and  having 
obtained  his  dismission,  offered  the  place  to 
Baxter;  but  he  positively  declined  having 
any  thing  to  do  with  the  parish,  except  as 
regarded  the  lecture.  This  he  was  willing 
to  take  upon  the  same  terms  as  to  salary, 
which  had  been  accepted  before;  that  is,  £60 


20 


LIFE  OF  THE 


and  a  house;  he  expected  to  receive  ^40 
more  from  a  neighbouring  place.  This  was 
all  he  asked  or  wished;  and  the  engagement 
being  made,  he  recommenced  his  labours. 
Formerly,  he  had  preached  twice  on  each 
Lord's  day;  but  he  was  now  able  to  preach 
but  once  on  the  Sabbath,  and  as  often  in  the 
week,  besides  occasional  sermons.  Every 
Thursday  evening  such  of  his  neighbours  as 
were  desirous  of  it,  met  at  his  house  for  con- 
versation and  religious  exercises;  each  one 
having  liberty  to  propose  his  doubts,  or  to 
ask  any  questions.  To  these  he  'gave  suit- 
able answers;  and  before  they  separated,  it 
was  his  custom  to  call  first  upon  one  and 
then  another  to  lead  in  prayer,  besides  pray- 
ing with  them  himself  This,  with  the  sing- 
ing of  a  psalm,  was  all  that  was  done.  On 
another  evening,  some  younger  persons  met 
and  spent  two  or  three  hours  in  prayer.  On 
every  Saturday  evening  it  was  customary  to 
meet  at  each  other's  houses,  to  repeat  the 
sermon  of  the  preceding  Sabbath,  and  to  pre- 
pare for  the  duties  of  the  next  day.  Once  in 
a  few  weeks  they  had,  on  one  occasion  or 
another,  a  day  of  humiliation  and  prayer. 
Every  reUgious  woman  who  escaped  the 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


21 


dangers  of  child-birth,  kept,  with  a  select 
company  of  her  neighbours,  a  day  of  thanks- 
giving for  God's  mercy  in  her  safe  deliver- 
ance. Every  week  he  and  his  assistant  took 
fourteen  families  each,  for  catechising  and 
conference;  the  assistant  going  into  the  coun- 
try, and  Mr.  Baxter  attending  to  such  as 
were  in  the  town.  He  first  heard  them  re- 
cite the  words  of  the  catechism,  and  then 
examined  them  about  the  sense;  and  lastly, 
urged  upon  them  the  state  of  mind  and  prac- 
tice which  corresponded  with  the  truths  re- 
cited. He  was  careful  not  to  press  them 
hard,  when,  through  ignorance,  they  were 
unable  to  answer,  but  passed  them  by,  or 
said  something  by  way  of  exhortation.  He 
spent  about  an  hour  with  each  family,  and 
permitted  no  other  persons  to  be  present,  lest 
through  bashfulness,  any  should  be  embar- 
rassed and  prevented  from  answering  freely, 
or  lest  one  should  be  led  to  speak  of  the 
ignorance  or  mistakes  of  his  neighbours. 
Every  Monday  and  Tuesday  afternoon  was 
spent  in  these  family  visitations;  and  the 
mornings  of  the  same  days  were  spent  by  his 
assistant  in  the  same  exercise.  For  five  or 
six  years  he  was  under  almost  a  necessity  of 


22 


LIFE  OF  THE 


practising  physic,  for  on  one  occasion,  when 
sickriess  prevailed,  he  was  led  to  prescribe, 
and  afterwards  he  was  applied  to  and  sent 
for  continually.  But  for  these  services  he 
never  took  a  penny  from  any  one,  on  which 
account  many  came  to  him;  so  that  as  many 
as  twenty  persons  would  often  be  at  his  door 
in  one  ddiy.  And  though  God  gave  hira 
more  success  than  he  expected,  yet  he  found 
it  necessary  to  relinquish  the  practice,  be- 
cause it  interfered  so  much  with  his  studies, 
and  from  an  apprehension  that  he  might  do 
barm  for  want  of  skill.  To  prevent  the  ne- 
cessity of  pursuing  this  course,  he  induced  a 
pious  and  attentive  physician  to  settle  there, 
binding  himself  to  give  up  the  practice  alto- 
gether, except  when  requested,  in  some  diffi- 
cult cases,  to  consult  with  the  regular  physi- 
cian. 

During  all  this  period,  the  writing  of  books 
to  be  printed  was  his  principal  business:  his 
preaching,  and  preparation  for  the  pulpit,  he 
says,  were  mere  recreations.  He  wrote 
every  thing  with  his  own  hand,  and  never 
made  an  hour's  use  of  an  amanuensis.  He 
lost  much  lime  in  attending  to  his  bodily 
complaints.     On  account  of  the  extreme 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  23 


weakness  of  his  stomach,  he  could  not  rise 
very  early,  and  his  infirmities  were  often 
such  that  an  hour  sometimes  elapsed  before 
he  was  dressed.  He  took  also  an  hour  to 
walk  before  dinner,  and  another  before  sup- 
per; and  after  supper  he  could  seldom  study. 
All  which,  with  family  duties,  prayer,  and 
meals,  left  but  little  time  for  study;  which 
he  considered  the  greatest  personal  affliction 
of  his  life. 

Every  first  Wednesday  in  the  month,  a 
meeting  was  held  for  parish  discipline;  and 
every  first  Thursday  of  the  month,  was  the 
minister's  meeting  for  discipline  and  dispu- 
tation. In  these  disputations  Mr.  Baxter 
was  almost  uniformly  appointed  moderator; 
and  he  commonly  delivered  a  written  opi- 
nion on  the  subject  discussed.  Besides, 
every  Thursday,  he  had  the  company  of 
divers  pious  ministers,  after  the  lecture,  with 
whom  he  spent  the  afternoon,  until  the  time 
for  the  meeting  of  the  weekly  conference. 
For  fourteen  years  he  was  thus  usefully  and 
happily  occupied,  in  the  midst  of  times  of 
great  difiiculty  and  trouble.  For  this  kind- 
ness of  a  benignant  Providence,  he  expresses 
the  warmest  gratitude,  and  even  wonder, 


24 


LIFE  OF  THE 


that  in  those  days  of  licentiousness  and  con- 
fusion, under  a  usurper,  such  a  mercy  should 
have  been  vouchsafed  to  him. 

His  public  preaching  met  with  an  atten- 
tive, diligent  auditory.  Before  he  entered 
the  ministry,  God  blessed  his  private  conver- 
sation to  the  conversion  of  some,  who  con- 
tinued to  be  exemplary  Christians.  Those, 
in  the  beginning  of  his  ministry,  he  was  wont 
to  number  as  his  jewels;  yet  after  a  while, 
they  so  increased  that  he  could  not  keep 
count.  The  church  was  commonly  very 
full;  and  the  hearers  so  increased,  that  it  was 
found  necessary  to  erect  several  additional 
galleries  for  the  accommodation  of  the  peo- 
ple. On  the  Lord's  day,  there  was  no  dis- 
order to  be  seen  in  the  streets;  and  as  one 
passed  along,  he  might  hear  a  liundred  fami- 
lies singing  psalms,  or  engaged  in  repeating 
sermons.  When  Baxter  first  came  to  Kid- 
derminster, there  might,  perhaps  be  found 
one  family  in  a  street,  who  worshipped  God: 
when  he  left  the  place,  there  were  some 
whole  streets  in  which  there  could  not  be 
found  a  single  family  in  which  the  worship 
of  God  was  not  maintained.  Even  in  those 
houses  which  were  the  worst,  such  as  taverns 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  25 

and  ale-houses,  there  were  commonly  found 
one  or  more,  who  feared  God,  and  called 
upon  his  name.  Such  as  conducted  them- 
selves scandalously  were  excommunicated; 
and  of  six  hundred  communicants,  there 
were  not  twelve  of  whose  piety  he  did  not 
entertain  a  good  hope. 

Some  of  the  poor  men  of  the  congregation 
competently  understood  the  body  of  divinity, 
and  were  able  to  judge  in  difficult  controver- 
sies :  and  some  of  them  were  so  able  in 
prayer,  that  very  few  ministers  were  equal 
to  them,  in  order  and  fulness.  Abundance 
of  them  were  able  to  pray  in  a  very  pro- 
per manner  with  their  families,  or  others; 
possessing  a  remarkable  gift,  and  lively  ut- 
terance which  rendered  it  edifying  to  hear 
them;  and  the  innocency  of  their  lives  and 
temper  of  their  minds  were  such,  as  to  call 
forth  the  praises  of  all  who  regarded  the 
truth.  The  professors  of  religion  were  gene- 
rally of  humble  minds  and  carriage,  of  meek 
and  quiet  behaviour  to  others,  and  of  blame- 
less conversation.  His  labours  also,  in  the 
surrounding  towns,  were  eminently  blessed, 
especially  at  Dudley  and  Shiffnal;  when  he 
preached  there,  the  nailers  and  other  labour-- 
3 


26 


LIFE  OF  THE 


ers  would  crowd  the  house,  and  hang  upon 
the  boards  and  windows,  without. 

His  labours  also  with  his  brethren,  in  the 
ministry,  were  not  ineffectual.  Their  cleri- 
cal, weekly  meetings  for  conference  and  dis- 
putation, were  not  unprofitable;  and  though 
contentious,  were  comfortable.  They  took 
great  delight  in  each  other's  company ;  and 
the  remembrance  of  those  meetings  was 
pleasant  to  all  who  took  part  in  them.  And 
when  he  laboured  to  bring  his  brethren  to 
the  work  of  catechising,  and  instructing 
every  family  by  itself,  he  found  a  ready  con- 
sent in  most,  and  performance  in  many. 

The  account  which  Mr.  Baxter  gives  of 
the  means  and  reasons  of  his  success,  de- 
serves the  attention  of  every  pastor. 

The  people  to  whom  he  came  had  not  pre- 
viously grown  hard  under  the  faithful  preach- 
ing of  the  gospel.  They  had  never  before 
enjoyed  an  awakening  ministry;  but  only  a 
few  formal,  cold  sermons.  Baxter  himself 
was  then  young,  and  full  of  animation.  His 
voice  too  was  naturally  penetrating  and  mov- 
ing, which  with  common  hearers  is  a  great 
matter.  He  preached  also  as  a  dying  man  ; 
for  on  account  of  his  bodily  infirmities,  he 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


27 


had  the  prospect  of  death  continually  before 
him.  Another  great  advantage  which  he 
had,  was,  that  the  most  of  those  who  on  his 
first  coming,  had  bitterly  opposed  him,  and 
risen  in  tumuhs  against  him,  on  account 
of  their  hatred  to  the  Puritans,  went  out  to 
the  wars,  in  the  king's  army,  and  were  quick- 
ly killed  or  never  returned  again  ;  so  that  on 
his  second  coming,  there  were  few  disposed 
to  make  any  open  opposition  to  the  power  of 
godliness. 

The  usurpation  of  Cromwell  served  to  re- 
move much  of  that  odium,  which,  under  the 
bishops,  had  followed  all  serious  piety.  He 
gave  liberty,  indeed,  to  all  sects,  and  attempt- 
ed to  establish  none;  and  by  this  very  liber- 
ty, of  which  many  complained,  as  believing 
that  toleration  was  a  connivance  at  error, 
there  was  a  door  opened  for  the  gospel,  in 
many  places,  where  before  it  was  closed. 

Baxter  found  also,  that  his  having  a  good 
report  among  the  people,  as  an  honest  and 
sincere  man  who  really  sought  their  good, 
was  of  unspeakable  advantage  in  promot- 
ing the  success  of  his  ministry.  If  the  people 
of  the  place  had  suspected  the  purity  and 
benevolence  of  his  motives;  if  they  had 


28 


LIFE  OF  THE 


believed  him  to  be  erroneous,  scandalous, 
worldly  or  covetous,  his  niinistry  would  have 
been  hindered.  A  bishop  must  have  a  good 
report  with  those  who  are  without.  He  was 
greatly  assisted  also,  by  the  zeal  of  the  godly 
in  the  place.  They  thirsted  after  the  salva- 
tion of  their  neighbours,  and  being  dispersed 
all  over  the  town,  they  were  every  where 
ready  to  discountenance  error  and  vice,  to 
justify  piety,  and  to  convince,  reprove,  and 
exhort  men,  as  occasion  offered,  and  as  there 
was  need.  They  also  inculcated  the  duty  of 
prayer,  and  the  sanctification  of  the  Lord's 
day;  and  it  was  a  custom  for  those  who 
were  intelligent  and  serious,  when  they  had 
a  meeting  at  their  houses,  to  repeat  sermons, 
&c.,they  invited  their  ignorant  neighbours  to 
attend,  so  that  often  the  houses  of  the  better 
sort  of  people,  on  such  occasions,  would  be 
crowded  with  poor  people.  Their  holy,  hum- 
ble, and  exemplary  lives  were  of  the  greatest 
advantage  to  the  success  of  his  ministry. 
Nothing  so  convinces  men  of  the  truth  and 
reality  of  vital  religion,  as  the  living  example 
and  meek  and  humble  spirit  of  its  professors; 
while,  on  the  other  hand  there  is  no  greater 
obstruction  to  the  gospel,  than  the  inconsis- 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  29 


tent  lives  and  unsavoury  spirit  of  many,  who 
are  in  the  communion  of  the  Church.  The 
unity  and  concord  which  were  preserved 
among  the  pious  were  also  a  great  benefit. 
The  place  was  also  in  a  good  degree  exempt 
from  those  sects  and  heresies,  which  abound- 
ed at  this  time  in  most  places  in  the  land. 

Private  meetings  were  found  to  be  an 
effectual  help  to  the  progress  of  piety,  in  the 
place,  for,  thereby,  truths  that  had  slipped 
away,  were  recalled,  and  serious  impressions 
which  were  in  danger  of  being  worn  away 
by  intercourse  with  the  world,  were  renewed, 
and  good  desires  cherished.  These  meet- 
ings were  found  also  greatly  to  increase  the 
religious  knowledge  of  the  people;  and  by 
the  continual  exercise  of  the  gift  of  prayer, 
many  improved  in  this  exercise,  and  the 
younger  learned  to  pray,  by  hearing  those 
that  were  older.  They  furnished  the  preacher 
also,  with  an  opportunity  of  knowing  the 
persons,  who  were  beginning  to  be  serious; 
for  if  any  one  was  wounded  by  the  arrows 
of  truth,  in  the  public  dispensation  of  the 
vsrord,  he  would  be  sure  to  drop  into  these 
meetings.  By  the  means  of  these  also,  idle 
meetings  and  the  loss  of  time,  were  prevent- 


30 


LIFE  OF  THE 


ed;  and  so  far  were  these  religious  societies 
from  promoting  schism,  that  they  were  the 
chief  means  of  preventing  every  thing  of  the 
kind;  for  the  pastor  was  commonly  there  in. 
the  midst  of  them,  solving  their  doubts,  si- 
lencing their  objections,  and  moderating  them 
in  all  things.  Some  controversies  which  the 
pastor  had  with  gainsayers,  particularly  with 
the  Quakers,  greatly  confirmed  the  people  in 
the  belief  of  the  truth.  These  people  endea- 
voured to  set  up  a  meeting  in  the  town. 
Baxter  invited  them  to  meet  in  the  church, 
and  there  to  hold  a  public  disputation,  when 
he  so  exposed  their  errors  and  deceits  before 
all  the  people,  that  they  received  no  counte- 
nance from  them,  and  gained  not  so  much  as 
one  proselyte  in  the  town. 

Baxter  mentions  as  one  means  of  his  ex- 
traordinary success,  in  his  pastoral  labors, 
the  honesty  and  diligence  of  his  assistants ; 
and  the  presence  and  countenance  of  vigilant 
and  faithful  justices  of  the  peace,  who  for 
the  most  part,  were  men  of  piety,  and  were 
always  ready  to  use  their  authority  to  sup- 
press vice,  and  promote  good  order,  and  vir- 
tuous conduct.  It  gave  him  no  small  advan- 
tage, that,  being  a  single  man,  and  spending 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  31 

little  on  himself,  he  was  able  to  distribute  the 
larger  part  of  his  income  among  the  poor. 
And  when  he  found  any  of  their  children 
possessed  of  promising  talents,  he  would  by 
means  of  his  own  funds  and  the  aid  of  his 
friends,  send  them  to  be  educated  at  the  Uni- 
versity. Several  of  these  became  useful 
preachers,  and  with  their  brethren  were  eject- 
ed by  the  act  of  uniformity;  while  others 
conformed,  and  remained  in  the  ministry.  In 
giving  charitable  relief  to  the  indigent,  he 
never  made  it  a  question  whether  they  were 
good  of  bad;  for,  he  thought,  the  bad  had 
souls  and  bodies  that  needed  charity  most. 
And  for  the  encouragement  of  liberality,  Mr. 
Baxter  makes  this  remark,  that  ivhat  little 
funds  he  ever  acquired,  were  obtained,  when 
he  gave  most  away;  and  that  when  he  has 
been  able  to  give  little,  his  increase  has  been 
also  diminished. 

Another  furtherance  of  the  good  work  was, 
the  books  which  he  wrote  and  gave  away 
among  the  people.  Of  some  small  books  he 
gave  every  family  one,  which  came  to  about 
eight  hundred ;  of  the  larger  size,  he  gave 
fewer;  and  to  every  poor  family  destitute  of 
a  Bible,  he  gave  one.    He  considered  it  a 


32  LIFE  OP  THE 

great  advantage,  that  the  business  which 
most  of  the  people  followed,  allowed  them 
time  to  read,  and  to  talk  of  divine  things. 
This  business  was  the  weaving  of  the  Kid- 
derminster stuffs;  and  as  they  stand  in  their 
looms,  the  men  can  set  a  book  before  them, 
or  discourse  with  one  another;  whereas, 
ploughing  and  many  other  kinds  of  work 
leave  the  labourers  so  weary,  that  they  have 
little  inclination  to  read,  and  while  occupied 
with  their  business  no  opportunity.  In  con- 
nexion with  this  subject,  Baxter  remarks, 
"that  freeholders  and  tradesmen  are  the 
strength  of  religion  and  of  the  community; 
while  gentlemen  and  beggars,  and  servile 
tenants,  are  the  strength  of  iniquity."  He 
found  that  his  single  life  afforded  much  ad- 
vantage; for  he  needed  little  for  his  support; 
and  as  he  had  no  children  of  his  own,  he 
could  bestow  his  undivided  attention  and 
affections  upon  his  people ;  and  living  free 
in  a  great  measure,  from  family  cares,  he 
had  more  time  to  devote  to  his  sacred  calling. 

He  was  of  opinion  also,  that  God  made 
his  practising  physic  a  great  advantage  to 
his  ministry;  for  they  that  cared  not  for  their 
souls,  loved  their  lives,  and  cared  for  their 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  33 

bodies ;  and  by  this  they  were  rendered  very 
tractable  and  obedient.  When  he  looked 
over  his  people,  he  saw  multitudes  whose 
lives  or  health,  God  had  made  him  the  means 
of  preserving;  and  as  it  cost  them  nothing,  a 
sense  of  gratitude  led  them  to  seek  to  gratify 
him,  by  attending  on  his  ministry. 

In  most  cases,  where  there  were  irreligi- 
ous and  vicious  people,  there  were  some  of 
their  connexions  brought  under  the  saving 
influence  of  the  gospel.  Many  children  did 
God  work  upon,  at  fourteen,  fifteen,  or  six- 
teen years  of  age;  and  this  had  a  powerful 
effect  to  reconcile  their  parents,  and  older 
people  to  religion.  They  that  would  not 
hear  him,  would  hear  their  own  children, 
und  some  who  had  been  wont  to  talk  against 
godliness,  would  not  hear  it  spoken  against, 
when  it  was  their  own  children's  case. 
Some  who  disregarded  religion  as  a  per- 
sonal concern,  seemed  to  be  proud  that  they 
had  understanding,  religious  children;  and 
there  were  some  of  seventy  or  eighty  years 
of  age,  who  had  Hved  without  God  all  their 
lives,  but  were  now  hopefully  reconciled  to 
God,  in  consequence  of  the  conversion  of 
their  own  children.    Another  great  help  to 


34 


LIFE  OF  THE 


his  success  was,  the  custom  already  mention- 
ed, of  dealing  with  every  family  apart,  cate- 
chising and  instructing  them.  That  which 
was  spoken  to  them  personally  seemed  to 
awaken  their  attention,  and  affect  them  much 
more  than  public  preaching. 

The  faithful  exercise  of  church  discipline 
also,  was  no  small  furtherance  of  the  peo- 
ple's good;  for  Baxter  found,  that  without 
discipline,  he  never  could  have  kept  the  reli- 
gious part  of  the  church  from  divisions  and 
separations.  Pious  people  have,  from  their 
very  character,  an  inclination  to  separate 
from  the  profane  and  irreligious;  and  if  they 
had  not  seen  a  determination  to  separate 
such  from  the  communion,  they  would  have 
been  disposed  to  withdraw  from  the  society. 
Many  abstained  from  coming  to  the  Lord's 
table  for  fear  of  discipline;  for  out  of  sixteen 
hundred  of  proper  age  to  come  to  the  Lord's 
table,  there  were  no  more  than  six  hundred 
communicants.  It  was  the  custom,  however, 
for  all  to  come  that  would,  so  that  their  ex- 
clusion was  their  own  act.  And  as  to  the 
posture  in  partaking  of  the  ordinance,  every 
one  was  permitted  to  follow  his  own  judg- 
ment, or  inclination. 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  35 


He  baptized  the  children  of  all  sorts,  but 
he  required  the  parents  to  give  him,  private- 
ly or  publicly,  an  account  of  their  faith;  and 
if  any  father  was  a  scandalous  sinner,  he 
made  him  confess  his  sin  openly,  with  appa- 
rent penitence,  before  he  would  baptize  his 
child.  If  he  refused,  the  administration  of 
the  ordinance  was  postponed  until  the  mo- 
ther brought  the  child;  for  he  says,  he  rarely 
found  both  father  and  mother  so  destitute  of 
knowledge  and  faith,  as  in  a  church-sense, 
to  be  incapable  thereof. 

Another  advantage  which  he  found  to  con- 
tribute to  his  success  was,  ordering  his  doc- 
trine in  such  a  manner,  that  while  he  kept 
in  view  the  main  end  of  preaching,  he  adapt- 
ed it  to  the  peculiar  circumstances  and  dis- 
eases of  his  flock.  The  things  which  he  con- 
tinually inculcated  were  the  fundamental 
principles  of  Christianity ;  which  were  so  fre- 
quently brought  to  view,  that  they  became 
the  matter  of  their  daily  cogitations,  and  dis- 
courses. But  to  keep  therh  humble,  under  a 
conviction  of  their  own  ignorance,  he  would 
commonly  put  something  in  every  sermon 
which  was  above  their  own  discovery,  and 
which  they  had  not  known  before.    By  this 


36 


LIFE  OP  THE 


means,  they  were  kept  in  a  learning  state, 
and  their  thirst  for  knowledge  was  both  ex- 
cited and  gratified.  For  he  thought,  if  min- 
isters tell  their  people  no  more  than  they 
already  know,  they  will  be  tempted  to  torn 
preachers  themselves,  and  suppose  that  they 
have  learned  all  that  the  minister  can  teach 
them,  and  have  become  as  wise  as  be  is. 
Ministers  will  be  despised  if  they  do  not 
possess  knowledge  superior  to  that  of  their 
people;  but  if  he  communicates  to  them 
things  which  they  did  not  know  before,  by 
a  daily  addition  to  their  former  light,  they 
will  be  led  on  with  desire  and  delight.  He 
never  thought  it  expedient  to  take  up  their 
time  with  unprofitable  controversies,  which 
could  not  produce  edification;  nor  did  he 
affect  novelties  in  doctrine,  contrarj^  to  the 
received  opinions  of  the  universal  church; 
but  such  things  as  tended  to  illustrate  the 
great  doctrines  before  mentioned,  or  about 
the  right  way  of  methodizing  them. 

One  important  circumstance  connected  with 
the  success  of  this  eminent  pastor  was,  that 
he  kept  himself  free  from  all  uorldiy  en- 
tanglements; so  that  he  had  his  whole 
time,  except  what  sickness  deprived  him  of, 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


37 


for  his  pastoral  duties.  Personally,  he  had 
nothing  to  do  with  the  tithes  of  the  parish; 
but  every  thing  of  this  kind  he  committed 
into  the  hands  of  others,  of  whom  he  never 
took  any  account.  And  if  any  one  refused 
to  pay  his  tithes  and  was  poor,  he  directed 
his  agents  not  to  exact  them,  but  to  remit 
the  debt. 

In  domestic  concerns,  he  was  freed  from 
all  care,  by  his  father  and  step-mother,  and 
by  an  aged  housekeeper,  of  eminent  piety, 
who  took  all  the  care  of  the  family,  and  laid 
out  all  the  money  needed  for  housekeeping, 
so  that  he  never  had  one  hour's  trouble  about 
it;  and  for  fourteen  years,  that  he  remained 
at  Kidderminster,  he  never  took  any  account 
of  her  transactions,  as  being  certain  of  her 
fidelity,  providence,  and  skill. 

He  attended,  as  often  as  he  could,  the 
Aveekly  lectures,  which  were  set  up  in  the 
surrounding  country;  and  united  with  the 
zealous  ministers  in  the  neighbouring  towns, 
to  have  the  gospel  preached  occasionally  in 
every  destitute  place.  A  plan  was  also  adopt- 
ed of  sending  zealous,  popular  ministers  to 
visit  the  congregations  which  had  pastors, 
and  to  stir  them  up  to  do  their  duty.  They 


38 


LIFE  OP  THE 


chose  four  men  to  engage  in  this  work,  An- 
drew Tristram,  Henry  Oasland,  Thomas 
Baldwin,  and  Joseph  Treble,  who  were  to 
go,  each  man  his  day,  once  a  month,  which 
was  every  Lord's  day  among  the  four,  and 
to  preach  at  those  places  which  had  most 
need,  twice  on  the  Lord's  day.  To  avoid 
all  offence,  they  went  sometimes  to  the  con- 
gregations of  abler  men,  and  wherever  they 
came,  they  made  it  an  object,  always  to  say 
something  to  draw  the  people  to  the  honour 
and  special  regard  of  their  own  pastors; 
that,  however  weak  some  of  them  might  be, 
they  might  see  that  they  came  not  to  draw 
away  the  people's  hearts  from  them,  but  to 
strengthen  their  hands,  and  help  them  in 
their  work.  This  circulating  lecture,  in  the 
opinion  of  Mr.  Baxter,  did  a  great  deal  of 
good,  and  the  ministers  who  laboured  in  it 
were  compensated  by  some  benevolent  per- 
sons in  London.  Although  it  was  at  first  an 
experiment,  for  one  year,  yet  all  were  so 
convinced  of  its  utility,  that  it  was  continued 
until  these  godly  ministers  were  turned  out, 
when  all  these  benevolent  works  went  down 
together. 

The  preceding  account  of  Baxter's  labours 


# 

REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  39 

is  taken  from  his  own  narrative.  Few  men 
have  been  so  fully  and  heartily  devoted  to 
pastoral  duties,  and  few  have  been  blessed 
with  such  abundant  success.  There  seems 
to  have  been  a  remarkable  suitableness  in  the 
means  used  to  produce  the  effects  recorded, 
and  a  manifest  proportion  between  the  la- 
bour employed,  and  the  fruit  produced. 

The  simplicity,  and  intense  ardour  of  his 
preaching  demand  special  notice.  It  was  ad- 
mirably adapted  to  instruct  the  ignorant,  to 
arouse  the  careless,  and  to  build  up  the  pious 
in  their  most  holy  faith.  He  sought  out  ac- 
ceptable words;  but  he  had  neither  time  nor 
taste  for  making  what  are  called  fine  ser- 
mons. He  studied  not  brilliancy,  but  point. 
His  object  was  not  to  dazzle,  but  to  convince; 
not  to  excite  admiration  of  himself,  but  to 
procure  the  reception  of  his  message.  He 
never'  aimed  at  drawing  attention  to  the 
preacher,  but  always  at  fixing  it  at  home,  or 
guiding  it  to  Christ.  He  never  ^'courted 
a  grin"  when  he  should  have  "wooed  a  soul," 
nor  played  with  the  fancy,  when  he  should 
have  been  dissecting  the  heart.  His  subjects 
were  always  the  most  important  which  can 
engage  the  attention  of  man;  the  Creed — 


40 


LIFE  OF  THE 


the  Commandments — and  the  Lord's  Prayer; 
or  according  to  his  own  simple  definition  of 
them,  the  things  to  be  believed  d^ud  the  things 
to  be  done.  These  were  the  leading  and,  in- 
deed, the  only  topics  of  his  ministry.  Into 
these  he  entered  with  all  the  intense  ardour 
of  his  acute  and  deeply  impressible  mind. 
He  never  spoke  like  a  man  who  was  indif- 
ferent whether  his  audience  felt  what  he  said, 
or  considered  him  in  earnest  on  the  subject. 
His  eye,  his  action,  his  tones,  his  every  word 
were  expressive  of  deep  and  impassioned 
earnestness,  that  his  hearers  might  be  saved. 
His  eloquence  was  of  the  highest  order;  not 
the  eloquence  of  nicely  selected  words — or 
the  felicitous  combination  of  terms  and 
phrases;  or  the  music  of  exquisitely  balanced 
periods  (though  these  properties  may  often 
be  found  in  his  discourses)  but  the  eloquence 
of  the  most  important  truths,  vividly  appre- 
hended, and  energetically  delivered.  It  was 
the  eloquence  of  a  soul  burning  with  ardent 
devotion  to  God,  and  inspired  with  the  deep- 
est compassion  for  men ;  on  whom  the  powers 
of  the  worlds  of  darkness  and  of  light,  exercis- 
ed their  mighty  influence;  and  spoke  through 
his  utterances,  all  that  was  tremendous  in 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


41 


warning,  and  all  that  was  delightful  in  invi- 
tation and  love.  He  was  condescending  to 
the  ignorant,  faithful  to  the  self-righteous  and 
careless,  tender  to  the  timid  and  afflicted.  In 
a  word,  as  a  preacher  he  became  all  things 
to  all  men,  if  by  any  means  he  might  save 
some.  It  was  impossible  that  such  a  man 
should  labour  in  vain. 

Another  thing  highly  deserving  attention 
in  the  ministerial  conduct  of  Baxter,  was  his 
careful  avoidance  of  every  thing  which  might 
prejudice  his  hearers  against  him,  and  his 
diligent  cultivation  of  whatever  was  likely 
to  gam  their  esteem,  or  secure  their  impar- 
tial attention.  No  one  could  be  less  a  man 
of  pleasure  than  he.  Except  as  they  might 
promote  the  object  of  his  ministry,  he  was 
regardless  of  human  frown  or  favour.  But 
he  considered  nothing  unimportant  which 
either  stood  in  the  way  of  his  success,  or  was 
likely  to  promote  it.  His  conduct  in  regard 
to  his  tithes;  hisremainingsolongunmarried; 
his  practising  physic;  his  liberality  to  the 
poor;  his  distribution  of  the  Bible,  and  other 
good  books,  were  all  intended  to  be  subser- 
vient to  his  great  work.  The  gaining  of 
souls  to  Christ  was  the  only  object  for  which 
4 


42 


LIFE  OF  THE 


he  lived.  Hence  amidst  the  seeming  variety 
of  his  pursuits  and  engagements,  there  was 
a  perfect  liarmony  of  design.  His  ruhng  and 
controUing  principle  was,  the  love  of  his 
Master,  producing  the  desire  of  a  full  and 
faiihtul  discharge  of  his  dnly  as  his  approved 
minister.  This  was  the  centre  around  which 
ever\'  thing  moved,  and  by  which  every  thing 
in  his  circumstances  and  character  was  at- 
tracted or  repelled.  This  gave  unity  to  all 
his  plans,  and  constituted  the  moral  force  of 
all  his  actions.  It  gave  enlightened  energy 
to  his  zeal,  exquisite  tenderness  to  his  per- 
suasions, warmth  and  fervency  to  his  admo- 
nitions. It  poured  over  all  his  public  and 
private  ministrations  that  holy  unction  which 
diffused  its  fragrance,  spreading  its  bland  and 
refreshing  influences  all  around. 

A  third  point,  worthy  of  observation  in 
his  ministry  is,  that  it  was  not  limited  to  the 
pulpit,  or  considered  as  discharged  in  the 
parlour.  The  blow  which  he  aimed  at  the 
people  in  mass,  in  public,  was  followed  by 
successive  strokes,  addressed  to  the  indivi- 
duals in  private.  The  congregation  was  not 
permitted  to  forget,  during  the  week,  what 
they  had  been  taught  on  the  Sabbath.  The 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


43 


man  who  would  have  been  lost  in  the  crowd; 
or  who  might  have  sheltered  himself  under 
the  exceptions  which  belong  to  a  general 
address,  was  singled  out,  shut  up  to  the  faith, 
or  left  to  bear  the  stings  of  an  instructed  and 
alarmed  conscience.  The  young  were  inter- 
ested and  led  on;  the  wavering  were  ad- 
monished and  established;  the  strong  were 
taught  to  minister  to  the  weak;  and  the 
prayers  of  many  a  holy  band,  at  once, 
strengthened  the  hands  of  their  minister,  and 
"  girded  each  other  for  the  race  divine."  This 
was  truly  making  full  proof  of  his  ministry, 
and  promoting  in  his  congregation  the  grand 
objects  and  aims  of  the  fellowship  of  Chris- 
tianity. 

"  When  we  thus  connect  the  public  talents, 
and  private  character  of  Mr.  Baxter;  the 
energy  and  point  of  his  pulpit  addresses,  with 
the  assiduousness,  the  perseverance,  and  the 
variety  of  other  labours;  his  devotion  to  God, 
his  disinterested  love  to  men;  what  he  was  as 
a  pastor,  with  all  that  he  was  as  a  preacher; 
we  cease  to  wonder  at  the  effects  which  he 
produced.  No  place  could  long  resist  such  a 
train  and  style  of  aggression.  All  people 
must  feel  the  force  of  such  a  moral  warfare 


44 


LIFE  OP  THE 


as  that  which  he  waged.  There  are  few  in- 
dividuals who  could  escape  without  being 
wounded,  or  conquered,  by  such  an  assailant. 
In  comparison  with  him,  how  few  are  there, 
even  among  the  faithful  ministers  of  Christ, 
who  can  tliink  of  themselves  or  their  labours 
with  satisfaction  ?  Yet,  was  there  nothing  in 
Baxter,  but  what  the  grace  and  power  of 
God  can  do  for  others.  There  was  something 
in  his  exertions  almost  superhuman;  yet  he 
seemed  to  accomplish  all  with  a  considerable 
degree  of  ease  and  comfort  to  himself  He 
never  seems  to  have  been  bustled,  but  he  was 
always  busy;  and  thus  he  found  time  for  all 
he  had  to  do,  while  he  employed  that  time  in 
the  most  profitable  manner.  We  have  only 
to  find  an  increase  of  such  ministers  in  the 
Church  of  Christ,  who  will  employ  the 
same  kind  of  means,  in  order  to  the  accom- 
plishment, in  any  place,  of  effects  that  will 
not  shrink  from  a  comparison  with  Kidder- 
minster itself  in  all  its  glory." 

The  above  just  and  striking  portraiture  of 
Baxter  is  chiefly  in  the  words  of  the  late  la- 
mented Wilham  Orme,  who  has  given  to  the 
public  an  admirable  abridgement  of  "  Bax- 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


45 


ter's  Life  and  Times,"  accompanied  with 
A  critical  Examination  of  his  Writings." 
The  effects  of  Baxter's  labours,  at  Kidder- 
minster, were  lasting,  as  well  as  extensive. 
He  never  lost  his  affection  for  his  beloved 
flock,  when  separated  from  them;  but  often 
refers  to  them,  and  to  the  comfort  which  he 
had  in  ministering  unto  them.  Many  of  them 
continued  to  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God,  their 
Saviour,  till  they  finished  their  mortal  course; 
and  now,  doubtless,  constitute  their  pastor's 
crown  of  rejoicing,  in  the  presence  of  their 
Redeemer. 

Nor  did  the  effects  of  his  ministry  expire 
with  that  generation.  Mr.  Fawcett,  who 
abridged  The  Saint's  Rest,"  in  1759,  says, 
"  that  religious  spirit  thus  happily  introduced 
by  Baxter,  is  yet  to  be  traced  in  the  town 
and  neighbourhood,  in  some  degree."  He 
represents  professors  of  that  place  as  "  pos- 
sessing an  unusual  degree  of  candour  and 
friendship  for  each  other;"  thus  evincing, 
that  Kidderminster  had  not  lost  the  amiable 
spirit  it  had  imbibed  more  than  a  century 
before. 

When  the  gospel  was  removed  from  the 
Church  it  was  received  and  cherished  in  the 


46 


LIFE  OP  THE 


Dissenters'  meeting;  though  at  what  time  a 
separate  congregation  was  set  up  there  is  not 
known.  Mr.  Baxter  whilst  he  served  there, 
always  opposed  an  entire  separation  from  the 
established  Church;  and  carried  his  opposi- 
tion so  far,  as  seriously  to  offend  some  of  his 
congregation.  But  in  process  of  time  a  sepa- 
ration did  take  place  which  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  a  large  Dissenting  congregation ;  for 
although  the  people  could  be  persuaded  to 
remain  in  the  Church,  while  they  had  such 
a  pastor  as  Baxter;  they  could  not  endure 
some  of  his  successors.  When  Mr.  Baxter 
removed,  he  advised  the  people  to  be  guided 
by  Mr.  Sergeant,  minister  of  Stone,  who  had 
formerly  been  his  assistant  in  pastoral  la- 
bours; and  Mr.  Thomas  Baldwin,  who  had 
acted  as  school-master  in  Kidderminster 
during  his  residence  there;  a  good  scholar 
and  a  man  possessed  of  respectable  ministe- 
rial qualifications.  This  Mr.  Baldwin  was 
minister  of  the  parish  of  Chadesley,  until 
ejected  by  the  Bartholomew  act ;  after  which 
he  removed  to  Kiddermmster,  and  became 
the  minister  of  those  non-conformists  who 
then  left  the  church.  His  ministry  was  fre- 
quently interrupted,  but  he  died  in  Kidder- 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


47 


minster,  in  1693.  After  his  death,  Mr. 
White,  the  vicar  of  the  parish  preached  and 
pubUshed  his  funeral  sermon,  in  which  he 
speaks  in  the  highest  terms  of  his  piety,  his 
talents,  and  his  moderation.  The  sermon  is 
honourable  alike  to  the  preacher  and  the 
deceased.  He  was  succeeded  at  Kidder- 
minster by  Mr.  Francis  Spilsbury,  son  of  the 
Rev.  John  Spilsbury,  the  ejected  minister  of 
Broomsgrove,  and  nephew  to  Dr.  Hall, 
Bishop  of  Bristol.  He  was  ordained  in  the 
year  1693,  and  after  a  useful  ministry  of 
thirty-four  years,  died  in  1727.  His  uncle 
used  to  visit  him,  and  not  only  make  his 
house  his  home,  but  met  his  clergy  in  it, 
while  his  nephew  was  the  pastor  of  the  Dis- 
senting congregation.  Dr.  Hall  was  at  the 
same  time,  master  of  Pembroke  College,  and 
Margaret  professor  of  Divinity  at  Oxford. 
Mr.  Spilsbury  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Brad- 
shaw,  who  married  his  daughter;  and  was 
a  man  of  similar  sentiments  and  spirit,  and 
laboured  in  the  congregation  until  1745, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Benjamin 
Fawcett,  a  favourite  pupil  of  Dr.  Doddridge, 
and  who  abridged  several  of  Baxter's  works. 
His  death  occurred  in  1780.    After  his  de- 


48 


LIFE  OF  THE 


cease  a  division  took  place  in  the  congrega- 
tion, which  led  to  the  erection  of  another 
meeting-house,  of  which  the  Rev.  Robert 
Gentleman  was  the  preacher,  who  edited 
Orton's  Exposition  of  the  Old  Testament. 
In  the  original  congregation,  Mr.  Barrett 
became  the  successor  of  Mr.  Fawcett.  He 
was  a  man  of  respectable  talents.  He 
was  followed  by  Mr.  Steill,  of  Lancashire; 
on  whose  removal  Mr.  Kelmore,  educated 
at  Gosport,  was  ordained  to  the  pastoral 
office  in  ISIO.  -  He  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
Joseph  John  Freeman,  afterwards  a  mission- 
ary in  Madagascar;  whose  place  has  been 
supplied  by  Doctor  James  Ross,  formerly 
a  missionary  at  Karass,  in  Russian  Tartary. 

Mr.  Orton,  in  his  letters  to  Dissenting 
clergymen,  informs  us,  "that  the  pulpit  in 
which  Mr.  Baxter  preached  is  still  preserved. 
A  few  years  ago  it,  together  with  the  pews, 
was  sold  for  a  trifle.  A  gentleman  anxious 
to  preserve  it,  purchased  it  from  the  person 
who  had  it  in  possession,  for  five  pounds, 
and  placed  it  in  the  new  meeting-house.  It 
is  rather  a  handsome  production  of  its  kind. 
In  form  it  is  octagonal.  The  panels  have 
long  carved  flowers  on  them,  and  are  paint- 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


49 


ed  different  colours;  and  some  of  the  gild- 
ing still  remains.  It  has  a  large  sounding 
board  surmounted  by  a  crown  upon  a 
cushion.  Around  the  top  is  this  inscription, 
"  And  call  upon  his  name,  declare  his  works 
among  the  people."  It  appears,  that  this 
pulpit  was  not  built  for  Baxter,  but  was  the 
gift  of  Alice  Dawks,  in  the  year  1621." 

Baxter  having  spent  two  years  in  the  par- 
liament's army,  had  the  opportunity  of 
thoroughly  understanding  the  characters  of 
all  the  leading  men  on  that  side;  and,  in  par- 
ticular, he  seems  to  have  been  acquainted 
with  the  true  character  of  Oliver  Cromwell. 
Perhaps  no  man  was  better  quaUfied  to  trans- 
mit to  posterity  an  impartial  history  of  that 
great  and  much  misrepresented  man.  They 
never  were  friends;  and  Baxter  had  a  strong 
dislike  of  Cromwell's  usurpation.  He  was 
of  opinion,  that  he  at  first  encouraged  and 
patronized  the  sectaries  of  every  description; 
but  that  when  he  got  the  reins  of  govern- 
ment into  his  own  hands,  he  set  himself  to 
undermine  and  suppress  them.  On  one  oc- 
casion, Baxter  was  sent  for  to  preach  before 
Cromwell;  and  according  to  his  usual  free- 
dom and  fidelity,  he  insisted  on  a  subject^. 
5 


50 


LIFE  OP  THE 


which  he  believed  ought  to  affect  the  con- 
science of  the  usurper.  ^  After  the  sermon 
Oliver  sent  for  Baxter,  and  for  five  hours 
they  disputed,  respecting  the  lawfulness  of 
the  existing  government.  Baxter  expressed 
his  opinions  without  restraint,  and  perhaps, 
with  too  little  respect  for  the  man  whose 
talents,  courage,  and  poUcy  had  placed  him 
at  the  head  of  the  British  government.  It  is 
certainly  much  to  the  credit  of  the  Protector, 
that  he  bore  with  Baxter's  plain  speaking. 
The  same  things  spoken  to  any  of  the  Stuarts 
would  have  cost  him  his  head;  but  Cromwell 
bore  with  him,  although  he  knew  that  Baxter 
had  denounced  him  as  a  usurper.  Cromwell 
was  a  professed  friend  of  religious  liberty; 
and  accordingly,  persecuted  none  for  their 
religious  opinions.  On  this  subject  his  opi- 
nions were  much  more  correct  than  those  of 
Baxter.  No  man  was  ever  more  reviled 
and  abused  than  Cromwell;  and  none  more 
highly  extolled  by  his  partisans  and  friends. 
By  the  soldiers  and  sectaries  he  was  almost 
adored;  while  by  the  Royalists,  the  Episco- 
palians, and  many  of  the  Presbyterians,  he 
was  abhorred,  as  a  perfidious  hypocrite. 
Baxter  thinks  that  he  meant  honestly,  in  the 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  51 


main;  and  that  he  was  pious  apd conscien- 
tious in  the  chief  course  of  his  Ufe,  till  pros- 
perity and  success  corrupted  him.  And  al- 
though he  believed  him  to  be  a  usurper,  and 
as  good  as  told  him  so  to  his  face,  he  was  of 
opinion  that  both  church  and  state  derived 
great  benefits  from  his  administration.  As 
a  large  part  of  the  parishes  were  burdened 
with  an  ignorant  and  immoral  clergy,  he  ap- 
pointed "Triers,"  to  cast  out  such  men,  and 
to  introduce  others  of  better  character  in 
their  place.  This  has  been  railed  at  as  a 
tyrannical  measure;  and,  perhaps  cannot  be 
easily  justified,  in  principle ;  yet  the  effects 
were  very  beneficial  to  the  people;  as  by 
this  means,  many  parishes  received  able  and 
pious  ministers,  in  the  place  of  men  of  the 
lowest  character.  In  estimating  the  charac- 
ter of  Cromwell,  Baxter  probably  ascribes 
too  much  to  selfishness  and  ambition;  and 
too  little  to  conscience  and  rehgion;  under 
the  influence  of  which  undoubtedly  he  acted, 
in  a  considerable  degree.  No  doubt  he  had 
great  faults;  but  he  had  also  splendid  vir- 
tues, which  if  they  had  been  found  in  any 
other  than  a  usurper,  would  have  been  em- 


52 


LIFE  OF  THE 


blazoned  by  his  friends,  and  eulogized,  even 
by  his  enemies. 

Since  Baxter  may  be  considered  as  intelli- 
gent and  impartial  a  witness  of  the  effect  of 
Cromwell's  administration,  as  can  readily  be 
found,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  set  down  a 
summary  of  his  testimony.  "  I  do  not  be- 
lieve," said  he,  "that  ever  England  had  so 
able  and  faithful  a  ministry  since  it  was  a 
nation,  as  it  hath  this  day;  and  few  nations 
on  earth,  if  any,  have  the  like.  The  change 
is  so  great  within  these  twelve  years,  that  it 
is  one  of  the  greatest  joys  I  ever  had  in  the 
world,  to  behold  it.  0,  how  many  congre- 
gations are  now  plainly,  and  frequently 
taught,  that  lived  then  in  obscurity !  How 
many  able  and  faithful  men  are  now  in  the 
country  in  comparison  of  what  were  then? 
How  graciously  hath  God  prospered  the 
studies  of  many  young  men,  that  were  little 
children  in  the  beghining  of  these  troubles, 
so  that  they  now  eclipse  most  of  their  seniors. 
I  hope  I  shall  rejoice  in  God  while  I  have  a 
being  for  the  change  that  I  have  lived  to  see, 
that  so  many  hundreds  of  faithful  men  are 
so  hard  at  work  for  the  saving  of  souls,"  &c. 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  53 


But  it  is  a  lamentable  reflection,  that  Baxter 
lived  to  see  most  of  these  godly  ministers 
ejected  from  their  ministry  and  shut  out  from 
a  field  of  usefulness;  while  multitudes  of  in- 
competent men  were  put  in  their  place. 

In  the  political  changes  which  followed 
the  death  of  Cromwell,  until  the  restoration 
of  Charles  II.,  Baxter  concurred  in  the  sen- 
timents of  the  Presbyterians,  to  whom  he 
was  attached,  and  who  had  a  principal  hand 
in  bringing  back  the  king  to  his  throne.  But 
these  men  were  completely  deceived  by  the 
promises,  and  the  hypocritical  protestations 
of  the  king;  and  the  consequence  was,  that 
with  him  they  brought  in  upon  the  nation, 
a  desolating  flood  of  irreligion ;  and  fell  them- 
selves under  a  heavy  yoke  of  ecclesiastical 
tyranny.  Out  of  mere  zeal  for  legitimacy, 
they  exchanged  the  mild  and  tolerant  govern- 
ment of  the  Protector,  for  the  domination  of 
a  proud  ecclesiastical  hierarchy,  who  would 
be  satisfied  with  nothing  less  than  complete 
uniformity.  Baxter  and  his  friends  who 
contributed  so  essentially  to  the  restoration 
of  the  king,  during  their  whole  lives  were 
crushed  under  the  yoke  of  high-church  au- 


54 


LIFE  OF  THE 


thoritv.  No  doubt  they  acted  from  princi- 
ple; but  their  integrity  was  greater  than 
their  wisdom.  They  might  have  foreseen, 
that,  whoever  might  be  active  in  restoring 
the  king,  when  once  firmly  established,  he 
would  be  disposed  to  favour  those  who  had 
always  adhered  to  his  cause,  and  who  had 
suffered  much  on  his  account. 

Baxter,  through  the  whole  revolution, 
acted  conscientiously;  but  his  course  was  by 
no  means  characterized  by  enlightened  wis- 
dom. He  sided  with  the  Parliament,  but 
maintained  the  rights  of  the  king:  enjoyed 
the  liberty  and  immunities  afforded  by  the 
protectorate;  and  yet  spoke  and  preached 
against  the  Protector.  He  hailed  the  return 
of  Charles;  but  yet  doubted,  whether  he  was 
free  from  allegiance  to  Richard.  He  first 
took  the  solemn  league  and  covenant,  and 
then  preached  against  it,  and  prevented  all  he 
could  from  taking  it.  Though  the  evidence 
of  Charles's  dissimulation  towards  the  Pres- 
byterians, was  soon  manifested,  and  the  evi- 
dence of  it  as  strong  as  the  light  of  day;  yet 
it  was  long  before  Baxter  could  be  persuad- 
ed to  believe  it.    It  was  in  him  a  fault  that 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  55 

abstract  principles,  and  refined  destinations 
often  influenced  him  more  than  plain  mat- 
ters of  fact. 

Immediately  before  the  restoration  he  was 
called  to  London,  and  preached  before  the 
parliament.  After  that  event,  he  did  not  re- 
turn to  reside  at  Kidderminster,  the  beloved 
field  of  his  pastoral  labours,  for  more  than 
fourteen  years.  During  this  long  residence, 
his  labours  were  not  confined  to  pastoral 
duties.  He  endeavoured  also  to  serve  his 
generation,  and  future  generations,  by  means 
of  the  press;  and  published  a  number  of  vo- 
lumes, intended  to  defend  the  Christian  reli- 
gion ;  all  of  which  show  the  indefatigable 
diligence  of  this  extraordinary  man ;  for  the 
books  quoted  and  referred  to  in  these  publi- 
cations, seem  enough  to  have  occupied  a 
hfetime,  in  perusing.  It  must  be  admitted 
that  he  wrote  and  published  too  many  books. 
Less  than  one  half  the  number,  and  of  half 
the  bulk  would  have  been  far  more  useful  to 
his  own  generation,  and  to  those  that  came 
after.  But  we  ought  not  to  complain.  The 
"  Saint's  Rest,"  and  the  "Call  to  the  Uncon- 
verted," give  him  a  claim  to  be  considered  a 
rich  benefactor  to  all  who  can  read  the  Eng- 


56 


LIFE  OF  THE 


lish  language.  And  although  very  few  pastors 
have  ever  been  so  successful  as  Baxter,  by 
his  personal  labours,  I  think,  it  may  at  this 
time  be  safely  asserted  that  all  the  effects  of 
his  preaching  in  the  pulpit,  and  instructing 
in  a  more  private  way,  were  but  as  a  drop 
in  the  bucket,  when  compared  with  the  ex- 
tensive and  growing  influence  of  his  practi- 
cal writings;  for  at  this  day,  there  are  ten 
readers  of  these  popular  works,  where  there 
was  one  in  the  age  in  which  they  were  pub- 
lished; and  we  see  not  but  that  this  increase 
will  go  on  in  a  ratio  which  cannot  be  calcu- 
lated. How  blessed  is  that  man  who  is 
honoured  to  write  a  book,  which  shall  serve 
for  the  instruction  of  millions  of  souls,  and 
of  generations  innumerable  ? 

About  the  time  of  the  king's  return,  Bax- 
ter had  his  heart  full  of  the  benevolent 
scheme  of  propagating  the  gospel  among  the 
American  Indians.  During  the  period  of  the 
commonwealth  a  collection  had  been  made 
by  order  of  government,  in  every  parish  in 
England,  to  assist  Mr.  Eliot,  celebrated  as 
the  Apostle  of  the  Indians,  and  others,  in  car- 
rying on  this  truly  Christian  work. 

The  money  thus  contributed  was  laid  out, 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


57 


partly  in  the  purchase  of  stocks,  and  partly  in 
land,  to  the  amount  of  seven  or  eight  hundred 
pounds  per  annum;  and  this  fund  was  vested 
in  a  corporate  body,  to  be  employed  in  extend- 
ing Christianity  among  the  Indians.  The  land 
had  been  purchased  from  Colonel  Bedding- 
field,  who  upon  the  king's  return  seized  it 
again ;  upon  the  unjust  pretext,  that  all  trans- 
actions and  engagements  which  had  taken 
place  in  Cromwell's  time,  were  null  and  void 
in  law,  and  that  the  corporation  had  no  longer 
any  existence.  The  corporation,  of  which 
Mr.  Ashurst  was  treasurer,  knowing  that 
Mr.  Baxter  was  deeply  interested  in  this  en- 
terprise, requested  him  to  attend  their  meet- 
ing and  give  them  his  counsel;  and  upon 
consultation  it  was  agreed  that  he  should  en- 
deavour to  obtain  a  new  charter  from  the 
king.  This  through  the  influence  of  the  Lord 
Chancellor,  he  happily  obtained.  His  lord- 
ship also  decided  a  suit  in  chancery  against 
the  claims  of  Beddingfield.  Mr.  Ashurst  and 
Mr.  Baxter  had  the  nomination  of  the  new 
members  of  the  corporation,  and  they  agreed 
to  recommend  the  Honourable  Robert  Boyle, 
as  President;  Mr.  Ashurst  was  reappointed 
treasurer;  and  the  whole  matter  was  put  into 


58 


UFE  OF  THE 


a  State  of  excellent  and  efficient  operation. 
This  affair  brought  Mr.  Baxter  into  intimate 
correspondence  with  EUot,  Norton,  goFemor 
Endicot,  and  other  excellent  men,  who  were 
engaged  in  this  good  work.  The  correspon- 
dence between  Eliot  and  Baxter  continaed 
through  a  principal  part  of  the  remainder  of 
their  lives.  It  is  pleasing  to  see,  with  what 
ardour  he  entered  into  this  missionary  enter- 
prise, when  the  spirit  of  missions  was  rare  in 
England.  One  of  his  letters  to  Eliot  contains 
so  much  evidence  of  a  right  spirit  on  this  in- 
eresting  subject,  that  our  readers  will  be  gra- 
tified with  an  extract  from  it;  though  it  was 
written  some  time  after  the  period  of  which 
we  are  now  speaking. 

"  Though  our  sins  have  separated  us  from 
tlie  people  of  our  love  and  care,  and  depriir- 
ed  us  of  all  the  pubUc  Uberty  of  preaching 
the  Gospel  of  our  Lord,  I  greatly  rejoice  in 
the  liberty,  help,  and  success  which  Christ 
hath  so  long  vouchsafed  to  you  in  his  work. 
There  is  no  man  on  earth  whose  work  I  think 
more  honourable  and  comfortable  than  yours; 
to  propagate  the  Gospel  and  kingdom  of 
Christ  into  those  dark  parts  of  the  world,  is 
a  better  work  than  our  devouring  and  hating 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


59 


one  another.  There  are  many  here  who 
would  be  ambitious  of  being  your  fellow 
labourers;  but  that  they  are  informed  that 
you  have  access  to  no  greater  number  of  In- 
dians, than  your  present  assistants  are  able 
to  instruct.  An  honourable  gentleman,  Mr. 
Robert  Boyle,  the  governor  of  the  Corpora- 
tion for  your  work,  a  man  of  great  learning 
and  worth,  and  of  a  very  public,  universal 
mind,  did  mention  to  me  a  public  collection 
in  all  our  churches,  for  the  maintaining  of 
such  ministers  as  are  willing  to  go  hence  unto 
you,  partly  while  they  are  learning  the  In- 
dian language,  and  partly  while  they  labour 
in  the  work;  as  also  to  transport  them.  But 
I  find  those  backward  that  I  have  spoken  to 
about  it,  partly  suspecting  it  a  design  of  those 
that  would  be  rid  of  them;  partly  fearing, 
that  when  the  money  is  gathered,  the  work 
may  be  frustrated  by  the  alienation  of  it : 
partly,  because  they  think  there  will  be  no- 
thing considerable  gathered,  because  the 
people  that  are  unwillingly  divorced  from 
their  teachers,  will  give  nothing  to  send  them 
further  from  them,  and  those  that  are  wil- 
lingly separated  from  them,  will  give  nothing 
to  those  they  no  more  respect:  but  especially, 


60  I-IFE  OF  THE 

because  they  think,  on  the  aforesaid  grounds, 
that  there  is  no  work  for  them  to  do,  if  they 
were  with  you.  There  are  many  here,  I 
conjecture,  who  would  be  glad  to  go  any 
where,  to  the  Persians,  Tartarians,  Indians, 
or  any  unbeUeving  nation,  if  they  thought 
they  would  be  serviceable:  but  the  difficulty 
of  their  language  is  their  greatest  discourage- 
ment The  industry  of  the  Jesuits  and 

Friars,  and  their  successes  in  Congo,  Japan, 
China,  &c.  shame  us  all,  save  you:  but  yet, 
for  their  personal  labours  in  the  Gospel,  here 
are  many  that  would  be  willing  to  lay  out, 
where  they  have  liberty  and  a  call.  I  should 
be  glad  to  learn  from  you,  how  far  your  In- 
dian tongue  extendeth,  how  large  or  populous 
the  country  is  that  useth  it,  if  it  be  known; 
and  whether  it  reach  to  a  few  scattered  neigh- 
bours, who  cannot  convey  their  knowledge 
far  because  of  other  languages.  We  very 
much  rejoice  in  your  happy  work,  the  trans- 
lation of  the  Bible,  and  bless  God  that 
strengthened  you  to  finish  it.  If  any  thing 
of  mine  may  be  honoured  to  contribute,  in 
the  least  measure,  to  your  blessed  work,  I 
shall  have  great  cause  to  be  thankful  to  God, 
and  wholly  submit  the  alteration  and  use  of 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  61 


it  to  yonr  wisdom.  Methinks  the  Assembly's 
Catechism  should  be,  next  to  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, most  worthy  of  your  labours."  This 
admirable  letter  shows  how  deeply  Baxter 
entered  into  the  philanthropic  views  which 
were  then  rare,  but  which  have  been  since 
so  generally  adopted  by  Christians.  How 
would  his  noble  spirit  have  exulted,  had  he 
lived  to  witness,  even  Avith  all  their  imper- 
fections, the  extended  exertions  of  modern 
times !  How  ardently  would  he  have  sup- 
ported every  scheme  of  sending  the  Scrip- 
tures, or  the  knowledge  of  salvation,  to  the 
destitute  parts  of  the  world !  If  there  is  joy 
in  heaven  over  the  plans  of  earth  which  tend 
to  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel,  Baxter, 
though  removed  from  the  scene  of  labour 
and  trial,  is  no  doubt  exulting  in  much  that 
is  now  going  forward. 

While  he  lived  at  Kidderminster,  his  cor- 
respondence must  have  been  very  great  and 
laborious;  the  existing  remains  of  it  show 
that  it  was  very  extensive  and  multifarious. 

Dr.  Manton  consulted  him  in  1658,  re- 
specting a  plan  for  calling  a  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  ministers  of  England,  to  determine 
certain  matters,  and  arrange  their  ecclesias- 


62 


LIFE  OP  THE 


tical  affairs.  To  this  he  returned  an  answer, 
expressive  of  his  doubts  respecting  the  prac- 
ticability and  expediency  of  the  scheme.  He 
was  friendly  to  such  associations,  but  from 
the  state  of  the  country  he  thought  nothing 
could  be  effected.  Indeed,  there  is  no  reason 
to  think  that  Cromwell  would  have  permitted 
such  an  assembly  of  Presbyterian  ministers 
to  meet,  since  he  would  not  permit  the  people 
of  Scotland  to  hold  their  assemblies. 

Besides  his  concern  in  public  affairs,  he 
was  consulted  by  multitudes  respecting  their 
affairs;  and  especially  he  was  requested  to 
solve  many  doubtful  cases  of  conscience;  in 
answer  to  which  he  often  returned  long  and 
minute  answers. 

In  such  labours  and  exercises  as  have  been 
described  above,  did  Baxter  spend  fourteen 
of  the  most  useful  and  happy  years  of  his 
life. 

After  the  king's  return,  the  leading  Pres- 
byterian ministers  were,  for  a  while,  treated 
with  attention  and  apparent  respect;  and 
several  of  them  were  appointed  his  chaplains, 
among  whom  was  Baxter.  They  were  so 
far  deceived,  as  to  believe  that  it  was  really 
intended  to  comprehend  them  in  the  religious 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


63 


establishment  about  to  be  formed.  The  offer 
of  a  bishopric  was  made  to  Baxter,  Calamy 
and  Reynolds:  of  whom  only  the  last  accept- 
ed the  offer.  Baxter  excused  himself  in  a 
very  respectful  letter  to  the  Lord  Chancellor. 

A  conference  was  proposed  to  the  king  by 
some  of  his  advisers,  to  which  the  leading 
Presbyterian  ministers  should  be  called.  The 
object  was  to  consider  of  some  plan  of  agree- 
ment, which  should  unite  all  moderate  men, 
whether  Episcopalians  or  Presbyterians.  At 
this  conference  Baxter  was  the  chief  speaker, 
and  addressed  the  king  in  a  long  and  able 
speech,  in  which  he  explained  the  views  and 
feelings  of  the  great  body  of  those  with  whom 
he  acted.  He  showed  how  the  existing 
differences  might  be  settled  or  disposed  of; 
and  how  much  his  government  would  be 
strengthened  by  the  union  of  all  sober  mind- 
ed Christians.  He  assured  him  that  he  did 
not  speak  for  the  Presbyterians  as  such,  or 
for  any  party,  but  for  the  religious  part  of 
his  subjects  in  general;  and  he  represented 
to  him  how  large  a  part  of  his  subjects  he 
would  find  them  to  be;  and  that  all  that  was 
requisite  to  secure  a  union  of  all  good  people, 


64 


LIFE  OF  THE 


was  to  insist  on  agreement  only  in  things 
necessary. 

He  even  went  so  far  as  to  hold  up  as  an 
example,  the  course  pursued  in  regard  to 
religion  by  the  late  usurper;  and  entreated 
his  majesty  not  to  pursue  a  system  of  policy 
which  should  induce  any  part  of  his  subjects 
to  look  back  with  regret  upon  the  privileges 
enjoyed  under  the  administration  of  a  usurp- 
er. In  this  connexion  he  adverted  to  two 
evils  which  ought  to  be  deprecated:  the  one 
was  the  depriving  the  people  of  their  faithful 
pastors,  and  taking  away  from  them  tlieir 
liberty  of  worshipping  God,  which  religious 
privileges  they  prized  above  all  earthly  bless- 
ings; the  other  evil  to  be  dreaded  and  avoid- 
ed, was  the  indulgence  of  and  connivance  at 
vice,  which  had  been  restrained  and  sup- 
pressed by  the  usurper.  He,  moreover, 
urged  upon  him  the  exercise  of  a  salutary 
discipline  in  the  church,  by  which  unworthy 
and  incapable  ministers  might  be  kept  out 
of  the  church. 

This  long  address  to  the  king  is  replete 
with  wisdom,  and  is  a  noble  example  of 
fidelity,  and  at  tlie  same  time  manifests  a 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


65 


respectfulness  and  delicacy  in  the  expression 
of  the  author's  opinions,  which  are  never  the 
attendants  of  a  fanatical  spirit.  The  whole 
address  is  as  good  a  model  of  faithful  counsel 
to  a  monarch,  as  can  any  where  be  found; 
and  happy  would  it  have  been  for  Charles, 
and  for  the  nation,  if  he  had  hstened  to  the 
advice  now  so  respectfully  given  to  him. 
But  from  what  we  know  of  his  duplicity  and 
profligacy,  it  is  probable  that  he  was  at  this 
viery  time  secretly  laughing  at  the  simpHcity 
of  the  venerable  men  who  were  pleading 
before  him,  for  the  rights  of  God  and  their 
fellow  subjects.  He  so  far  dissembled  his 
real  sentiments,  however,  as  to  give  a  very 
gracious  answer  to  the  ministers  who  attend- 
ed on  him,  and  even  went  so  far  as  to  pro- 
mise that  he  would  do  every  thing  he  could 
to  bring  about  the  union  of  all  good  men; 
and  if  it  was  not  accomplished,  it  would  be 
their  own  fault;  but  that  he  was  resolved  to 
see  it  accomplished.  Old  Mr.  Ash,  one  of 
the  Presbyterian  ministers  present,  was  so 
overcome  with  this  favourable  reception,  and 
the  prospect  of  peace  and  concord,  that  he 
burst  into  tears  in  the  royal  presence;  and  in 
words  expressed  the  great  joy  which  these 
6 


66 


LIFE  OF  THE 


promises  of  his  majesty  had  put  into  his 
heart. 

It  cannot  now  be  ascertained  whether 
Charles,  at  this  time,  might  not  have  had  a 
desire  to  unite  all  his  subjects,  for  the  sake 
of  the  strength  and  peace  which  it  would 
afford  to  his  kingdom;  and  it  may  be,  that, 
contrar^r  to  his  own  opinions  now  expressed, 
he  was  afterwards  influenced  b}'  the  high 
church  party,  to  pursue  other  measures. 
This  is  the  most  charitable  construction 
which  can  be  put  on  his  conduct.  But, 
whatever  policy  might  have  dictated,  there 
can  be  no  doubt  of  his  deadly  hatred  to  all 
the  Puritans,  whom  he  considered  the  mur- 
derers of  his  father,  and  the  cause  of  all  his 
suflerings.  And  there  were  those  about  him 
whose  hatred  was  not  less,  and  who  were 
fully  determined  to  make  their  yoke  heavier 
than  before. 

The  king  now  called  upon  the  Presbyte- 
rian ministers  to  give  their  views  of  a  plan 
of  union;  to  which  they  objected  that  they 
were  a  few  persons,  and  had  no  authority  to 
act  in  behalf  of  their  brethren,  and  begged 
time  to  lay  the  matter  before  them.  But  this 
the  king  thought  would  be  too  tedious:  it 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  67 


was  therefore  determined  to  hold  a  meeting 
at  Sion  College,  to  which  all  ministers  should 
be  freely  invited  to  come  and  aid  them  by 
their  counsels.  The  result  of  this  meeting 
was,  that  certain  papers  were  drawn  up  to 
be  presented  to  the  king.  It  was  agreed  to 
adopt  Archbishop  Usher's  form  of  church 
government,  and  the  papers  were  mostly 
prepared  by  Dr.  Calamy  and  Dr.  Reynolds; 
but  Baxter  drew  up  the  abstract  which  was 
laid  before  the  king.  The  papers  now  agreed 
on  show  that  the  non-conformists  were  not 
rigidly  bigotted  to  their  own  notions.  They 
were  willing  to  concede  many  things,  and  to 
yield  to  many  for  the  sake  of  peace.  The 
paper  against  ceremonies  was  drawn  up 
by  Dr.  Reynolds  and  Dr.  Worth,  both  of 
whom  afterwards  conformed,  and  were  made 
bishops.  Indeed  the  only  ceremonies  which 
they  specified  as  offensive  to  the  consciences 
of  many,  Avere,  the  use  of  the  surplice,  the 
sign  of  the  cross  in  baptism,  bowing  at  the 
name  of  Jesus,  and  kneeling  at  the  altar. 
The  form  of  church  government  was  pre- 
sented in  Usher's  own  words.  This  was  a 
sort  of  Presbyterian  Episcopacy,  in  which 
the  bishop  was  a  perpetual  moderator  of 


6S 


LIFE  OF  THE 


the  presbytery;  a  primus  inter  pares;  but 
clothed  with  no  mdependent  authority.  They 
also  agreed  to  a  liturgy,  but  objected  to  a 
rigid  enforcement  of  conformity  to  it.  As  the 
object  of  the  meeting  was  to  make  conces- 
sions, and  agree  on  some  principles  of  com- 
promise, they  had  reason  to  expect  some 
advances  of  a  similar  kind,  from  the  other 
party;  but  they  never  moved  a  step,  nor 
manifested  the  least  disposition  to  promote 
union  and  concord.  When  the  king  heard 
the  papers  read,  he  seemed  pleased,  as  he 
said,  that  he  was  glad  to  find  that  they  had 
declared  in  favour  of  a  liturgy,  and  of  the 
substance  of  Episcopacy.  He  said,  that  he 
would  see  that  the  bishops  should  come 
down,  and  make  reasonable  concessions  on 
their  part;  and  he  had  no  doubt  that  an 
agreement  would  take  place. 

Already,  however,  many  worthy  ministers 
were  turned  out  of  their  places,  and  those 
restored,  whom  the  parliament  had  ejected. 
The  Presbyterian  ministers  would  not  have 
objected,  if  all  should  have  been  restored 
who  were  competent  to  instruct  the  people 
and  of  good  character,  but  they  complained 
of  the  restoration  of  ignorant  and  scandalous 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


69 


ministers,  by  the  ejectment  of  able  and  godly- 
men,  whom  the  people  loved,  and  who  were 
a  blessing  to  the  flock. 

The  Presbyterian  ministers  waited  long 
for  the  proposals  of  the  bishops,  but  they 
waited  in  vain,  for  any  condescension  from 
them,  for  the  only  communication  which 
they  received  from  this  quarter  was,  a  paper 
expressive  of  bitter  opposition  to  their  plan. 
They  felt  that  they  were  treated  unworthily, 
and  Baxter  was  requested  to  prepare  an  an- 
swer to  this  paper;  which,  however,  was 
never  used;  it  is  preserved  in  his  life,  as 
written  by  himself,  together  with  the  paper 
to  which  it  is  an  answer. 

The  king,  however,  that  he  might  not 
seem  totally  regardless  of  his  promises,  so 
often  repeated,  published  a  "  Declaration'^ 
of  what  he  was  disposed  to  do  to  satisfy  all 
parties,  as  it  related  to  religion.  This  paper, 
while  it  seemed  in  words  to  grant  much, 
and  even  recognised  and  renewed  the  en- 
gagements entered  into,  at  Buda,  contained 
so  many  exceptions  and  evasive  clauses, 
that  it  was  in  reality  worth  nothing.  When 
this  document  was  considered  by  the  Pres- 
byterian ministers,  they  saw,  at  once,  that 


70 


LIFE  OF  THE 


such  a  scheme  as  there  proposed,  would 
never  answer  the  purpose  of  promoting  con- 
cord. Baxter  was,  therefore,  requested  to 
prepare  a  paper  containing  their  views.  As 
he  had  penetration  to  see  now,  that  all  hopes 
of  a  compromise  were  at  an  end,  and  that 
all  they  had  to  do  was  to  keep  a  good  con- 
science, and  set  an  example  of  probity  to 
posterity,  he  judged  it  proper  to  come  out, 
and  speak  their  sentiments  plainly;  but  when 
his  "  Remarks"  were  read,  both  Dr.  Calamy 
and  Dr.  Reynolds  were  dissatisfied  with  his 
plainness,  and  said,  it  would  not  be  endured. 
They  particularly  objected  to  the  prediction, 
which  it  contained,  of  evils  that  might  be 
expected,  if  the  agreement  was  not  entered 
into;  which  they  said  the  king  would  inter- 
pret into  a  threat.  Baxter,  however,  defend- 
ed what  he  had  written;  upon  which  a  refer- 
ence was  made  to  the  Earl  of  Manchester 
and  the  Earl  of  Anglesea,  and  Lord  Hollis, 
when  all  of  these  persons  joined  with  Dr. 
Reynolds  and  Dr.  Calamy,  in  advising  that 
alterations  should  be  made.  Without  being 
convinced  of  its  propriety,  Baxter  yielded  to 
their  opinion. 

A  Utile  before  this  paper  was  presented,  a 


« 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


71 


meeting  took  place  between  Dr.  Morley,  Dr. 
Hinchman,  and  Dr.  Cosins,  on  the  one  side; 
and  Dr.  Reynolds,  Dr.  Calamy,  and  Mr. 
Baxter,  on  the  other;  but  after  much  ram- 
bhng  conversation,  nothing  was  agreed  upon. 

When  the  petition,  spoken  of  above,  was 
presented  to  the  Lord  Chancellor,  it  was  so 
ungrateful,  that  they  never  called  to  present 
it  to  the  king.  But  as  the  king  had  publish- 
ed his  "Declaration,"  containing  the  plan  of 
ecclesiastical  government  which  he  designed 
to  establish,  it  was  now  the  proper  time  to 
petition  his  majesty  for  any  alterations  which 
were  desired.  Accordingly,  another  paper 
was  prepared,  which  merely  specified  the 
alterations  which  the  subscribers  wished  in 
the  plan  proposed  in  the  "  Declaration." 
When  this  was  presented,  the  King  came  to 
the  Lord  Chancellor's  house,  where  were 
convened  a  number  of  persons,  of  both  par- 
ties; not  called  together  to  discuss  the  arti- 
cles of  the  "  Declaration,"  but  as  it  was  read 
ovdt,  they  were  permitted  to  object  to  any 
particular  part.  The  divines  on  the  part  of 
the  bishops,  who  were  present,  were,  Dr. 
Hinchman,  bishop  of  Salisbury;  Dr.  Cosins, 
bishop  of  Durham 5  Dr.  Gauden,  afterwards 


72 


LIFE  OF  THE 


bishop  of  Exeter;  Dr.  Seldon,  bishop  of  Lon- 
don; Dr.  Morley,  then  bishop  of  Worcester, 
Dr.  Barwick,  dean  of  St.  Paul's;  Dr.  Hacket, 
bishop  of  Coventry;  and  several  others, 
among  whom  Dr.  Gunning  was  most  nota- 
ble. On  the  other  side,  were.  Dr.  Reynolds, 
Mr.  Calamy,  Mr.  Ash,  Dr.  Wallis,  Dr.  Man- 
ton,  Dr.  Spurstow,  and  Mr.  Baxter.  When 
the  Lord  Chancellor  had  finished  reading 
the  king's  "  Declaration,"  he  proposed  of  his 
own  accord,  to  change  some  words;  but  they 
were  not  material.  Much  conversation  now 
took  place  respecting  re-ordination,  and  the 
right  of  presbyters  to  control  the  bishop,  &c. 
The  speakers  on  one  side  were.  Dr.  Gun- 
ning, and  Dr.  Morley,  and  on  the  other,  Mr. 
Calamy,  and  Mr.  Baxter. 

When  this  was  ended,  the  Lord  Chancellor 
read  a  petition  from  the  Independents  and 
Anabaptists,  and  then  drew  out  of  his  pocket 
an  addition  to  the  "  Declaration," — "  That 
others  also  be  permitted  to  meet  for  religious 
worship,  so  that  they  do  not  do  this  to  the 
disturbance  of  the  peace."  To  this  not  a 
word  was  said.  The  Presbyterians  perceiv- 
ed, at  once,  that  there  was  a  snare  laid  for 
them,  for  this  would  secure  the  liberty  of  the 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


73 


Papists;  and  if  they  opposed  it,  use  would 
be  made  of  it  against  their  petition.  Dr. 
Wallis  whispered  to  Mr.  Baxter,  and  entreat- 
ed him  "  not  to  say  any  thing,  for  it  was  an 
odious  business;"  and  the  bishops  remained 
silent  also.  At  length,  Baxter  fearing  that 
their  very  silence  might  be  construed  into 
an  approbation,  made  a  few  remarks,  which 
were  answered  by  the  king  himself.  Before 
the  meeting  was  dissolved,  the  king  commit- 
ted the  "  Declaration"  to  four  divines,  to  alter 
any  expressions  which  might  appear  to  them 
objectionable.  The  persons  selected  by  his 
majesty  were  Bishop  Morley,  Bishop  Hinch- 
man.  Dr.  Reynolds,  and  Mr.  Calamy.  When 
the  "  Declaration"  was  published,  it  appeared 
that  several  unimportant  alterations  had  been 
made  in  it,  to  render  it  more  acceptable  to 
moderate  men  amons^  the  non-conformists. 
These  alterations  were  exceedingly  gratifying 
to  Baxter,  and  he  expressed  his  feelings  to 
the  Lord  Chancellor,  and  said  it  was  his  pur- 
pose to  persuade  all  his  brethren  to  conform. 
Upon  this  the  Lord  Chancellor  made  him  the 
offer  of  a  bishopric,  of  which  a  more  parti- 
cular account  will  be  given  hereafter.  Bax- 
ter was  not  long  in  discovering,  however,. 
7 


74 


LIFE  OF  THE 


that  the  policy  of  the  king  was  merely  to 
amuse  the  Presbyterians,  until  affairs  were 
in  that  condition  that  he  could  crush  them. 
To  carry  the  scheme  through,  it  was  agreed 
to  weaken  the  party  by  making  some  of  their 
leading  men  bishops;  not  that  they  wanted 
such  bishops,  but  because  it  was  the  most 
effectual  method  of  silencing  such  men,  and 
destroying  their  influence  with  their  own 
party.  The  plan  succeeded  with  some,  but 
not  with  Baxter. 

A  confidential  agent  was  employed  to 
sound  Baxter,  and  learn  whether  he  would 
accept  the  bishopric  of  Hereford.  He  gave 
no  encouragement,  but  did  not  think  it  expe- 
dient, at  that  time,  to  return  a  positive  an- 
swer. After  the  publication  of  the  king's 
declaration,  the  same  messenger  was  sent 
privately  to  negociate  with  him,  and  also 
with  Mr.  Calamy  and  Dr.  Reynolds;  to  each 
of  whom  a  bishopric  was  also  off'ered.  These 
three  distinguished  men  freely  conferred 
together  on  the  subject;  and  it  was  agreed 
among  them,  that  according  to  the  "  Decla- 
ration," as  now  altered,  there  was  no  ob- 
stacle, from  conscientious  scruples  of  the 
lawfulness  of  the  thing,  in  the  way  of  their 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


75 


acceptance,  provided  they  should  judge  it  to 
be  expedient.  Mr.  Calamy  was  solicitous 
that  they  should  all  act  in  unison  in  this 
business,  and  either  all  accept  or  all  refuse; 
but  by  this  time  the  rumour  of  the  thing  had 
spread  through  the  city,  and  public  opinion 
made  a  difference  between  the  parties.  The 
people  decided  that  Reynolds  and  Baxter 
might  consistently  accept  of  bishoprics,  as 
they  had  uniformly  advocated  a  modified 
episcopacy;  but  that  Mr.  Calamy  could  not, 
without  departing  from  the  principles  which 
he  had  always  held,  and  in  favour  of  which 
he  had  published.  This  feeling  in  regard  to 
Calamy  was  so  strong,  that  Mr.  Newcomen, 
his  brother-in-law,  and  many  others,  wrote 
to  him  on  the  subject,  to  dissuade  him  from 
accepting  the  office.  Baxter  determined,  for 
prudential  reasons,  to,  decline;  and  when 
consulted  by  his  two  friends,  would  give  no 
advice  to  Calamy;  but  he  advised  Reynolds 
to  accept,  on  the  condition  that  things  should 
be  regulated  according  to  the  king's  "  De- 
claration," and  that  he  might  be  permitted 
to  resign  it,  when  he  could  not  exercise  it  on 
those  terms.  When  Baxter  next  visited  the 
Lord  Chancellor,  he  suddenly  asked  him 


76 


LIFE  OF  THE 


what  his  purpose  was  in  regard  to  the  bish- 
opric; finding  it  necessary  to  make  known 
his  decision,  he  informed  the  chancellor  that 
he  could  not  accept;  but  that  he  would  prefer 
giving  his  reasons  in  writing,  to  which  his 
lordship  consented. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  his  let- 
ter: 

«  My  Lord, 

"  Your  great  favour  and  condescension 
encourage  me  to  give  you  more  of  my  sense 
of  the  business  which  your  lordship  was 
pleased  to  propound.  I  was,  till  I  saw  the 
<  Declaration/  much  dejected,  and  resolved 
against  a  bishopric  as  unlawful.  But  find- 
ing such  happy  concessions  in  the  great  point 
of  parochial  power  and  discipline,  and  in 
the  liturgy  and  ceremonies,  my  soul  rejoiced 
in  thankfulness  to  Gad  and  his  instruments, 
and  my  conscience  presently  told  me  it  was 
my  duty  to  do  my  best  with  myself  and 
others,  as  far  as  I  had  interest  and  opportu- 
nity, to  suppress  all  sinful  discontents:  and 
having  now  competent  materials  put  into  my 
hand,  without  which  I  could  do  nothing,  to 
persuade  all  my  brethren  to  thankfulness, 
and  obedient  submission  to  the  government. 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  77 


Being  raised  to  some  joyful  hopes  of  seeing 
the  beginning  of  a  happy  union,  I  shall  crave 
your  lordship's  pardon  for  presuming  what 
further  endeavours  will  be  necessary  to  ac- 
complish it.  1.  If  your  lordship  will  endea- 
vour to  get  the  ^  Declaration'  passed  into  an 
act.  2.  If  you  will  get  a  commission  for 
those  persons  who  are  to  be  deputed  to  re- 
vievy  the  '  Common  Prayer/  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. 3.  If  you  will  further  effectually,  the 
restoration  of  able  ministers,  who  are  lately 
removed.  4.  If  you  will  open  some  way 
for  the  ejectment  of  the  scandalous  and  insuf- 
ficient. 5.  If  you  will  put  as  many  of  our 
persuasion  as  you  can  into  bishoprics — more 
than  three,  if  it  may  be.  If  you  will  desire 
the  bishops  to  place  some  of  them  in  inferior 
places  of  trust,  especially  rural  deaneries, 
which  is  a  station  suitable  to  us,  in  that  it 
hath  no  salary  nor  coercive  power;  but  that 
simple,  pastoral,  persuasive  power  which  we 
desire.  This  much  will  set  us  all  in  joint. 
And  for  my  own  part,  I  hope  this  very  week 
to  disperse  the  seeds  of  satisfaction,  in  many 
counties  in  England;  my  conscience  com- 
manding me  to  make  this  my  very  work  and 
business,  unless  the  things  granted  should  be 


78 


LIFE  OF  THE 


reversed,  which  God  forbid.  I  must  inform 
your  lordship,  that  I  am  utterly  against  ac- 
cepting of  a  bishopric,  because  I  am  conscious 
that  it  will  overmatch  my  sufficiency,  and 
affright  me  with  the  thought  of  my  account 
for  so  great  an  undertaking.  Especially 
because  it  will  effectually  disable  me  from 
promoting  the  church's  peace.  And  men 
will  question  all  my  argumentations  and  per- 
suasions, when  they  see  me  in  the  dignity 
which  I  plead  for;  but  will  take  me  to  speak 
my  conscience  impartially,  when  I  am  but 
as  one  of  themselves.  So  I  must  profess  to 
your  lordship  that  it  will  stop  my  own  mouth, 
that  I  cannot  for  shame  speak  half  so  freely 
as  I  now  can  and  will,  if  God  enable  me,  for 
obedience  and  peace.  I  therefore  humbly 
crave  that  your  lordship  will  put  some  able 
man  of  our  persuasion  into  the  place  which 
you  intend,  though  I  now  think  that  Dr. 
Reynolds  and  Mr.  Calamy  may  better  accept 
of  a  bishopric  than  I,  which  I  hope  your 
lordship  will  promote." 

He  then  proceeds  to  name  more  than  a 
dozen  ministers,  any  one  of  whom,  he  thinks, 
would  answer  well  for  this  high  station.  He 
then  expresses  his  thanks  for  the  honour 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


79 


which  had  been  intended  for  him;  and  says, 
that  he  feels  as  grateful  for  the  favour  as  if 
he  had  accepted  it.  And  he  concludes  this 
remarkable  letter,  by  modestly  requesting 
that  some  humble  station  of  usefulness  might 
be  provided  for  him.  His  heart,  however, 
was  evidently  in  Kidderminster.  He  there- 
fore hints,  that  as  the  vicar  of  his  old  parish 
was  unwilling  to  resign,  if  a  prebend,  or 
some  other  place  could  be  given  him,  he 
might  then,  without  loss,  resign  the  vicarage 
to  him.  But  the  conscientious  man  is  careful 
to  say,  that  he  dares  not  recommend  this  man 
to  any  pastoral  charge,  or  other  place  where 
preaching  is  required.  "  If,"  says  he,  "  there 
be  any  great  inconvenience  or  difficulty  in 
the  way,  I  can  well  be  content  to  be  his 
curate. Perhaps  history  cannot  furnish  a 
parallel  to  this;  a  man  in  the  same  letter  in 
which  he  declines  a  bishopric,  humbly  solicits 
the  place  of  a  curate  to  a  vicar  who  had  not 
the  gift  of  preaching! 

Mr.  Calamy  blamed  Mr.  Baxter  for  giving 
in  his  declinature  alone;  before  there  was  a 
mutual  understanding  what  course  should  be 
pursued.  Baxter,  however,  explained  to 
him,  how  he  had  been  led  to  give  an  answer. 


80 


LIFE  OF  THE 


by  the  unexpected  demand  of  the  Lord  Chan- 
cellor. Dr.  Reynolds  was  almost  as  quick, 
in  accepting,  as  Baxter  was,  in  refusing ;  and 
gave  out  by  way  of  apology,  that  some 
friend  had  taken  out  the  conge  d'elire  for 
him,  without  his  knowledge.  Baxter  in- 
forms us,  that  Dr.  Reynolds  read  to  him  a 
"profession"  directed  to  the  king,  in  which 
he  declared  that  he  took  a  bishop  and  pres- 
byter to  differ  not  ordine  but  gradv;  that  a 
bishop  was  no  more  than  a  chief  presbyter; 
and  that  he  was  not  to  ordain  or  govern,  but 
with  his  presbyters'  assistance  and  consent; 
that  he  accepted  the  place  as  described  in  the 
king's  "declaration,"  and  not  as  it  stood  be- 
fore in  England;  and  that  he  would  not  hold 
or  exercise  it  on  any  other  terms.  Whether 
he  ever  presented  it  to  the  king  is  uncertain. 
Such  resolutions,  in  one  who  accepts  the 
dignity  of  a  bishopric,  are  of  very  little  va- 
lue, however  sincerely  made,  at  the  time. 
In  the  case  of  Dr.  Reynolds,  we  know,  that 
his  office  was  not  held  and  exercised  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  principles  professed,  in  this 
paper;  and  we  know,  that  he  did  not  resign 
or  abdicate  his  office,  even  when  most  of  his 
brethren  were,  in  an  iniquitous  manner  eject- 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


81 


ed  from  their  livings.  Whether  he  exerted 
himself  to  prevent  these  tyrannical  proceed- 
ings, we  know  not;  but  it  is  certain  that  he 
continued  to  be  the  bishop  of  Norwich  until 
his  death,  which  event  occurred,  in  1676. 

Mr.  Calamy  remained  long  in  suspense, 
and  did  not  speedily  return  an  answer,  and 
his  bishopric  was  not  filled ;  until  at  length 
the  issue  of  the  negociation  with  the  Presby- 
terians was  brought  to  a  close;  when  he  did 
not  hesitate  to  decline.  The  deanery  of  Ro- 
chester was  offered  to  Dr.  Manton,  and  that 
of  Coventry  and  Litchfield  to  Dr.  Bates;  but 
they  refused,  on  the  same  account,  as  Mr. 
Calamy.  It  has  also  been  said,  that  Mr.  Ed- 
ward Bowles  was  offered  the  deanery  of 
York,  which  he  refused.  Baxter's  promp- 
titude and  decision  in  refusing,  on  the  most 
disinterested  considerations,  this  splendid  of- 
fer, does  him  infinite  credit.  He  towers,  on 
comparison,  far  above  his  compeers. 

After  the  royal  "Declaration"  was  pub- 
lished, the  ministers  of  London  met,  and  re- 
turned thanks  to  the  king  for  his  moderation 
and  goodness.  This  paper  was  presented  No- 
vember 16th,  1660,  by  a  number  of  the  Lon- 
don ministers,  not  including  Mr.  Baxter.  The 


82  LIFE  OF  THE 

next  day,  the  king  sent  for  him  to  come  to 
him.  He  supposed  it  probable  that  his  ma- 
jesty had  been  displeased  with  the  plainness 
and  earnestness  with  which  he  spoke,  when 
in  his  presence;  but  the  king  assured  him 
that  he  had  not  been  offended,  and  that  in 
his  freedom  and  warmth  he  saw  evidence  of 
his  honesty.  He  was  led,  therefore,  to  con- 
clude, that  it  was  hoped  that  some  further 
use  might  be  made  of  him,  in  promoting  the 
designs  of  the  court.  As  the  king  had  in  his 
"  Declaration"  promised  that  the  liturgy 
should  be  revised  and  reformed,  and  certain 
alterations  adopted  to  meet  the  feelings  of 
the  non-conformists,  Baxter  frequently  im- 
portuned the  Chancellor  to  carry  this  engage- 
ment into  effect.  At  last.  Dr.  Reynolds  and 
Mr.  Calamy  were  authorized  to  name  the 
persons,  on  their  side,  to  manage  the  con- 
ference; and  then  a  commission,  under  the 
great  seal  was  issued,  empowering  these  per- 
sons to  meet  for  this  purpose.  The  persons 
chosen  on  the  other  side,  included  the  arch- 
bishop of  York,  with  twelve  bishops,  and 
eleven  non-conformist  ministers,  with  a  pro- 
vision of  other  persons  to  supply  the  place  of 
any  who  might  be  prevented  from  attending. 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


83 


A  meeting  was  accordingly  appointed,  and 
Savoy,  the  residence  of  ttie  bishop  of  Lon- 
don, was  selected  as  the  place  of  the  con- 
ference. The  bishops,  beside  Dr.  Frewen, 
the  archbishop  of  York,  were  Dr.  Sheldon, 
Dr.  Morley,  Dr.  Saunderson,  Dr.  Cosins,  Dr. 
Hinchman,  Dr.  Walton,  Dr.  Lany,  Dr,  King, 
Dr.  Stern,  and  Dr.  Gauden.  The  ministers  on 
the  other  side  were.  Dr.  Reynolds,  Mr.  Bax- 
ter, Mr.  Clark,  Dr.  Spurstow,  Dr.  Lightfoot, 
Dr.  WalUs,  Dr.  Manton,  Dr.  Bates,  Dr.  Ja- 
comb,  Mr.  Cooper,  Mr.  Rawlinson,  and  Mr. 
Case. 

The  bishop  of  London  said,  that  the  Con- 
ference was  called  at  the  suggestion  and  re- 
quest of  the  non-conformists,  and  that  the 
bishops  had  nothing  to  do  until  they  brought 
in  their  exceptions,  and  proposed  alterations 
to  the  Uturgy.  The  Presbyterian  ministers 
were  not  generally  pleased  with  this  method 
of  proceeding;  but  to  Mr.  Baxter  it  seemed 
best  to  comply  with  the  bishop's  proposal,  as 
they  ought  to  bring  forward  nothing  in 
which  they  were  not  all  agreed.  It  would 
also  save  them  from  almost  endless  alterca- 
tion, to  exhibit  their  views  in  writing.  And 
he  alleged,  that  upon  this  plan,  whatever 


84 


LIFE  OP  THE 


they  said  would  not  be  liable  to  be  misrepre- 
sented, and  would  all  come  before  the  public; 
and  that,  perhaps,  they  would  never  have 
again  such  an  opportunity  of  giving  their 
testimony  in  favour  of  a  moderate  reforma- 
tion of  the  liturgy.  By  such  considerations 
as  these,  Baxter  prevailed  on  his  brethren  to 
consent  to  the  plan  proposed :  only  they  asked 
leave  to  bring  in  their  exceptions,  at  one 
time,  and  their  additions  at  another,  which 
was  granted.  To  us  it  appears,  however,  that 
the  Presbyterians  were  fully  caught  in  the 
trap  laid  for  them.  The  whole  burden  of 
the  conference  was  by  this  plan  laid  upon 
them,  while  the  bishops  merely  stood  upon 
the  defensive.  By  agreeing  to  exhibit  all 
their  exceptions  at  once,  the  number  appear- 
ed so  great  that  the  impression  would  be 
made  that  they  were  captious,  discontented 
men,  who  could  not  be  satisfied.  And  upon 
this  plan,  things  great  and  small  would,  as 
it  were,  be  placed  on  a  level,  by  being  pro- 
miscuously exhibited  in  the  same  paper. 

The  plan  being  agreed  upon,  the  non-con- 
formist ministers  divided  the  business,  as 
well  as  they  could  among  themselves.  The 
additions,  however,  or  new  forms,  to  be  pro- 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


85 


posed,  they  committed  to  Baxter  alone ;  and  at 
the  end  of  a  fortnight,  this  indefatigable  man 
had  completed  a  new  liturgy.  Finding  his 
brethren  unprepared  with  their  exceptions, 
he  turned  his  hand  to  this  also,  and  drew  up 
a  paper  containing  such  exceptions  as  occur- 
red to  him.  Both  his  " liturgy"  and  "ex- 
ceptions," have  been  printed  in  his  life,  and 
it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  pass  any  judgment 
on  them  at  present.  The  time  allowed  was 
too  short  for  judicious  compilation  of  such  a 
work.  It  is  found  by  experience,  that  no 
compositions  are  more  difficult  than  prayers, 
adapted  to  a  promiscuous  congregation.  Bax- 
ter undertook  more  than  any  man  could  per- 
form well,  in  a  fortnight.  Indeed,  no  one 
man  is  competent  to  form  a  liturgy.  It  re- 
quires the  combined  resources  of  a  number 
of  minds.  Prayers  may  be  scriptural  and 
correct,  and  may  yet  be  defective  in  several 
qualities  which  are  requisite  in  forms  of  this 
kind.  Besides,  he  aimed  at  too  great  a  change 
from  the  old  liturgy.  Other  things  being 
equal,  prayers  to  which  the  people  have 
been  long  accustomed  are  greatly  preferable 
to  new  ones;  and  if  we  must  have  a  liturgy, 
we  see  no  good  reason  for  objecting  to  that 


86 


LIFE  OF  THE 


of  the  Church  of  England.  There  is,  indeed, 
a  want  of  order  in  the  service,  and  too  much 
repetition ;  but  on  the  whole,  the  prayers 
possess  much  simple  dignity  in  their  concep- 
tion, and  style.  The}'  are  also  comprehen- 
sive, and  the  petitions  so  general  in  their 
character,  that  they  are  adapted  to  a  promis- 
cuous congregation.  We  are  inclined  to 
think,  therefore,  that  Baxter's  undertaking 
was  injudicious,  and  are  not  surprised  that 
it  failed  of  success.  All  the  prejudices  and 
associations  of  the  people  were  strongly  in 
favour  of  the  prayers  which  had  been  long 
in  use ;  and  most  of  those  who  were  opposed 
to  the  English  liturgy,  would  have  been 
equally  opposed  to  any  other  liturgy.  They 
objected  to  the  principle,  and  not  to  the  exe- 
cution. The  whole  scheme  of  attempting  to 
introduce  a  new  liturgy,  appears  to  us  to 
have  been  ill  judged ;  and  its  failure  might 
have  been  predicted  upon  the  common  prin- 
ciples of  human  nature. 

During  the  sitting  of  this  Conference,  the 
members  of  the  convocation  were  chosen; 
and  things  were  so  managed  by  the  bishops, 
that  a  majority  of  their  friends  were  returned. 
Had  there  been  a  fair  expression  of  the  opin- 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


87 


ion  of  the  existing  clergy  at  the  restoration, 
there  would  have  been  a  great  majority 
against  diocesan  episcopacy;  bat  by  the 
ejectment  of  several  hundred,  who  had  been 
put  in  the  place  of  such  ministers  as  were 
judged  incompetent,  who  had  been  turned 
out  by  the  parliament,  or  by  the  Triers  of 
Cromwell;  and  because  none  were  permitted 
to  vote,  who  had  not  received  episcopal  ordi- 
nation, the  convocation  consisted,  mainly,  of 
the  friends  of  the  bishops.  But,  in  London, 
by  a  small  majority  of  votes,  Mr.  Baxter  and 
Mr.  Calamy  were  returned  among  others. 
The  bishop  of  London,  however,  having  the 
right  to  select  six  out  of  the  whole  number 
returned,  was  pleased  to  leave  out  these  two 
distinguished  men.  Baxter  greatly  rejoiced 
in  this ;  for  he  knew,  that  he  could  accom- 
phsli  nothhig  in  the  convocation,  and  he  felt 
happy  to  escape  the  contention  and  conflict 
to  which  he  must  have  been  subject,  had  he 
been  a  member ;  for  he  was  not  a  man  that 
could  remain  silent  when  he  saw  things  going 
wrong. 

The  new  liturgy,  prepared  by  Baxter, 
after  being  read  over  frequently  by  the  breth- 
ren, was  adopted  with  no  other  alteration, 


88 


LIFE  OF  THE 


than  leaving  out  some  things  which  were 
thought  unnecessary;  and  the  Utany,  on 
account  of  its  length,  was  thrown  into  an 
appendix.  Dr.  Wallis  was  requested  to  pre- 
pare the  prayer  for  the  king,  which  he  did ; 
and  this  was  the  only  prayer  in  the  new 
liturgy,  of  which  Baxter  was  not  the  author. 
The  non-conformists  foreseeing,  however, 
what  would  be  the  result,  in  regard  to  the 
alterations  proposed  by  them,  resolved  to 
offer  an  earnest  petition  to  the  bishops  to 
propose  such  alterations,  as  to  them  appear- 
ed necessary  or  expedient.  Baxter  was  re- 
quested to  draw  up  this  petition:  which  he 
did,  and  it  was  accepted  by  his  brethren, 
with  only  one  or  two  verbal  alterations.  He 
was  then  requested  to  present  it,  and  to  seek 
an  opportunity  of  reading  it  in  a  full  meet- 
ing. When  the  reading  of  the  paper  was 
proposed,  some  were  against  it,  and  so  would 
all  of  them  have  been,  says  Baxter,  had  they 
known  what  it  contained.  After  it  was 
read.  Dr.  Gunning  delivered  a  long  and 
vehement  speech  against  it;  to  which  Baxter 
commenced  an  answer,  but  was  interrupted 
in  the  midst  of  it.  He  was  content  to  bear 
this,  since  he  had  been  permitted  to  read  the 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


89 


whole  of  the  petition.    He  now  delivered 
the  petition  to  the  bishops,  and  also  a  fair 
copy  of  the  "  Reformed  Liturgy.^'  They 
t  received  both,  and  so  they  separated. 

Tlie  time  of  the  commission  authorizing 
the  conference  was  limited  to  three  months, 
and  that  time  was  nearly  expired,  and  yet 
nothing  done  to  promote  the  peace  of  the 
Church.  It  was  now  evident,  that  the 
bishops  were  determined  to  yield  nothing. 
Instead  of  returning  an  answer  to  parts  of 
the  reformed  liturgy,  and  proposed  altera- 
tions, they  handed  in  a  paper,  in  opposition 
to  any  alteration.  The  brethren  were  now 
determined  to  give  a  plain  answer  to  their 
paper,  and  Mr.  Baxter  was  requested  to 
draw  it  up.  He  went  to  Spurstow's  in 
Hackney,  for  the  sake  of  retirement,  and  in 
eight  days  finished  his  answer.  This  the 
brethren  read,  and  approved;  except,  that 
they  wished  it  had  been  more  full  at  the 
close;  but  the  author  had  occupied  so  much 
time  in  the  beginning,  in  establishing  his 
principles,  that  he  had  not  room  to  enlarge 
on  particulars,  in  the  close.  This  answer 
was  handed  in  at  the  next  meeting ;  and  it 
was  evident,  they  were  not  pleased  with  the 
8 


90 


LIFE  OP  THE 


length  of  it.  Baxter  says  he  had  good  rea- 
son for  believmg  that  the  majority  of  the 
bishops  never  read  the  papers  handed  in  by 
the  ministers,  and  knew  nothing  of  their  con- 
tents, except  such  things  as  were  publicly 
read.  These  papers  were  folded  up  and  car- 
ried away,  and  were  probably  seen  by  none 
but  those  whose  business  it  was  made  to  an- 
swer them.  All  the  efforts  made  to  induce 
them  to  say  what  concessions  they  were  wil- 
ling to  make,  or  what  alterations  to  propose, 
were  utterly  ineffectual.  They  alleged,  that 
the  king's  "Declaration'^  only  spoke  of  ne- 
cessary alterations;  but  that  until  it  was 
shown  that  any  alterations  were  necessary, 
they  could  not  agree  to  make  them.  Much 
time  was  spent  in  contending  about  this  mat- 
ter. The  object  of  the  conference  was  to 
promote  peace  and  concord,  but  to  enter  now 
into  a  dispute  about  the  liturgy  and  ceremo- 
nies would  defeat  every  hope  of  this  kind ; 
and  the  ministers  saw  that  if  they  declined 
all  discussion,  they  would  be  considered  as 
shrinking  from  the  contest,  through  fear. 
Baxter  urged  his  brethren  to  agree  to  enter 
into  a  disputation,  after  declaring,  that  the 
failure  of  the  primary  end  of  the  king's  com- 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  91 

mission,  did  not  rest  with  them.  It  was 
finally  agreed,  that  three  persons  should  be 
chosen,  on  each  side,  to  conduct  the  debate. 
On  the  one  side  were.  Doctors  Gunning, 
Pearson,  and  Sparrow ;  and  on  the  other, 
Baxter,  Bates,  and  Jacomb.  They  met  ac- 
cordingly in  the  presence  of  many  of  the 
Episcopal  party;  but  the  non-conformists, 
except  the  three  advocates,  all  absented 
themselves.  The  debate,  as  might  have 
been  anticipated,  partook  more  of  the  nature 
of  a  personal  altercation,  than  of  a  grave  re- 
ligious argument.  The  following  account  of 
the  conference,  and  the  principal  actors  is 
taken  from  Baxter. 

*'Dr.  Sheldon,  the  Bishop  of  London,  and 
since  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  only  ap- 
peared the  first  day  of  each  conference, 
which  beside  that  before  the  king,  was  twice 
in  all,  and  meddled  not  in  any  disputations; 
but  all  men  supposed,  that  he  and  Bishop 
Morley,  and  Bishop  Hinchman,  were  the 
doers  and  disposers  of  all  such  affairs. 

"  Frewen,  the  Archbishop  of  York,  spoke 
very  little;  and  came  but  once  or  twice  in 
all.  Bishop  Morley  was  often  there,  and 
with  free  and  fluent  words,  with  much  ear- 


92 


LIFE  OF  THE 


nestness,  was  the  chief  speaker  of  all  the 
bishopSj  and  the  greatest  interrupter  of  us. 
Bishop  Cosins  was  there  constantly,  and  had 
a  great  deal  of  talk,  but  so  little  logic,  na- 
tural or  artificial,  that  no  one  was  much 
moved  by  any  thing  he  said — but  he  was 
excellently  well  versed  in  canons,  councils, 
and  fathers:  and  he  was  more  familiar  and 
affable  than  the  rest.  Hinchman,  since  Bishop 
of  London,  was  one  of  the  most  grave,  come  - 
ly,  reverend  aspect  of  any  of  them;  and  had 
a  good  insight  into  the  fathers  and  councils. 
He  spake  calmly  and  slowh*,  but  not  often; 
but  was  as  high  in  principles  as  any  of  them. 
Bishop  Saunderson  was  sometimes  there,  but 
never  spoke,  except  a  very  little. 

'•Bishop  Gauden  was  seldom  absent;  and 
bitter  as  is  his  pen,  he  was  the  only  moderate 
man  among  the  bishops,  except  our  Bishop 
Reynolds.  He  showed  no  learning  nor  logic, 
but  had  a  calm,  fluent,  rhetorical  tongue. 
Bishop  Lucy,  of  St.  David's,  spoke  once  or 
twice,  a  few  words,  calmly;  and  so  did  Bishop 
Nicholson  of  Gloucester,  and  Bishop  Griffith 
of  St.  Asaph's;  though  they  were  not  commis- 
sioners. King,  Bishop  of  Chichester,  I  never 
saw  there;  Bishop  Warner,  of  Rochester, 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


93 


was  present  once  or  twice.  Lany,  of  Peter- 
borough, was  once  or  twice  there ;  and  also 
Walton,  Bishop  of  Chester,  but  neither  of 
them  spoke  much.  Of  all  the  bishops,  none 
had  so  promising  a  face  as  Dr.  Sterne,  bishop 
of  Carlisle.  He  looked  so  honestly,  gravely, 
and  soberly,  that  I  scarce  thought  such  a  face 
could  have  deceived  me.  When  I  was  en- 
treating them  not  to  cast  out  so  many  of  their 
brethren  through  the  nation,  he  turned  to 
the  other  reverend  bishops  and  said,  "  He 
will  not  say  in  the  kingdom,  lest  he  own  a 
king.^^  This  was  all  I  ever  heard  that 
worthy  prelate  say.  I  told  him  with  grief, 
that  half  the  charity  which  became  so  grave 
a  bishop,  might  have  helped  him  to  a  better 
exposition  of  the  word  nation. 

Bishop  Reynolds  spoke  much  the  first 
day  to  bring  them  to  moderation ;  afterwards 
he  spoke  occasionally,  in  the  same  spirit. 
He  was  a  solid,  honest  man,  but  through 
mildness,  and  excess  of  timorous  reverence 
for  great  men,  altogether  unfit  to  contend 
with  them.  Mr.  Thorndike  spoke  a  few 
impertinent,  passionate  words,  confuting  the 
opinion  we  had  formed  of  him  from  his  writ- 
ings.   Dr.  Earle,  Dr.  Heylin,  and  Dr.  Bar- 


94 


LIFE  OP  THE 


wick,  never  came.  Dr.  Hacket,  since  bishop 
of  Coventry  and  Litchfield,  said  nothing  by 
which  he  could  be  distinguished.  Dr.  Spar- 
row said  but  httle,  but  that  little  was  with  a 
spirit  to  produce  division.  Dr.  Gunning  and 
Dr.  Pierce,  did  all  their  work  beside  Dr. 
Morley's  discourses;  but  with  a  great  differ- 
ence in  the  manner. 

"Dr.  Pierce  was  their  true  logician  and 
disputant;  but  Dr.  Gunning's  passionate  in- 
vectives, with  some  argumentation,  were 
not  so  agreeable.  Dr.  Pierce,  however,  dis- 
puted accurately,  soberly,  and  calmly;  being 
but  once  in  any  passion;  breeding  in  us  great 
respect  for  him,  and  a  persuasion  that  if  he 
had  been  independent,  he  would  have  been 
for  peace;  and  if  all  had  been  in  his  power 
it  would  have  gone  well.  He  was  the 
strength  and  honour  of  that  cause,  which 
we  doubted  whether  he  heartily  maintained. 
He  was  their  forwardest  and  greatest  speak- 
er, understanding  well  what  belonged  to  a 
disputant;  a  man  of  greater  study  and  indus- 
try than  any  of  them;  well  read  in  fathers 
and  councils,  and  of  a  ready  tongue.  He 
was  also,  as  I  hear  and  believe,  of  very  tem- 
perate life  also,  as  to  all  carnal  excesses, 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  95 

whatsoever.  But  so  vehement  for  his  high 
and  imposing  principles,  and  so  over-zealous 
for  Arminianism,  and  formality,  and  church 
pomp;  and  so  eager  and  fervent  in  his  dis- 
course, that  I  conceive  his  prejudice  and 
passion  much  perverted  his  judgment.  I  am 
sure,  they  made  him  lamentably  overrun 
himself  in  his  discourses.  Of  Dr.  Pierce,  I 
will  say  no  more,  because  he  hath  said  so 
much  of  me." 

It  is  probable  from  what  is  here  said,  that 
Baxter  and  Pierce  were  brought  into  direct 
collision;  and  were  probably  both  sore  with 
the  wounds  received  from  each  other.  Jere- 
my Taylor  says,  in  one  of  his  letters,  speak- 
ing of  Baxter,  "  But  I  suppose  he  has  met 
with  his  match,  for  Mr.  Pierce  has  attacked 
him,  and  they  are  joined  in  the  lists." 

"  On  our  part,"  says  Baxter,  "  Dr.  Bates 
spoke  very  solidly,  judiciously,  and  perti- 
nently, when  he  did  speak.  As  for  myself, 
the  reason  why  I  spoke  so  much  was,  be- 
cause it  was  the  desire  of  my  brethren,  and 
I  was  loth  to  expose  them  to  the  hatred  of 
the  bishops,  and  was  willing  to  take  it  all 
upon  myself;  they  themselves  having  so 
much  wit,  as  to  be  therein  more  sparing  and 


96  LIFE  OF  THE 

cautious  than  I.  I  thought  also  the  day 
and  cause  commanded  me  those  two  things 
which  then  were  objected  to  me  as  my 
crimes,  viz.  speaking  too  boldly  and  too 
long.  I  thought  it  a  cause  I  could  comfort- 
ably suffer  for,  and  should  as  willingly  be  a 
martyr,  for  charity  as  for  faith.^^ 

Thus  ended  the  Savoy  Conference,  the  last 
of  the  attempts  to  reconcile  churchmen  and 
dissenters,  in  which  the  court,  and  the  autho- 
rities of  the  church  took  any  active  part. 
The  issue  might  have  been  foreseen  even  at 
the  beginning,  from  the  disposition  of  the 
leading  Episcopal  commissioners,  and  from 
the  conduct  of  Sheldon  at  the  very  first 
meeting. 

Burnet  says,  not  without  considerable  jus- 
tice, "The  two  men  that  had  the  chief  man- 
agement of  the  debate,  were  the  most  unfit 
to  heal  matters,  and  the  fittest  to  widen  them 
that  could  have  been  found  out.  Baxter 
was  the  opponent,  and  Gunning  the  respon- 
dent, who  was  afterwards  advanced  first  to 
the  see  of  Chichester  and  then  to  Ely.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  reading,  and  noted  for  a 
special  subtlety  of  arguing.  All  the  arts  of 
sophistry  were  made  use  of  by  him  on  all 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


97 


occasions,  in  as  confident  a  manner  as  if 
they  had  been  sound  reasoning.  Baxter  and 
he  spent  some  days  in  much  logical  arguing, 
to  the  diversion  of  the  town,  who  thought 
here  were  a  couple  of  fencers  engaged  in 
disputes,  that  never  could  be  brought  to  an 
end,  or  to  any  good  effect." 

The  Presbyterian  ministers  having  com- 
pletely failed,  as  they  believed,  in  the  object 
of  this  conference,  drew  up  a  correct  account 
of  the  whole  affair,  and  presented  it  to  the 
king  in  the  form  of  a  petition.  It  was  writ- 
ten by  Baxter,  and  with  a  few  alterations 
and  amendments,  was,  at  last,  laid  before 
his  majesty,  with  a  fair  copy  of  all  the  pa- 
pers, by  Dr.  Manton,  Dr.  Reynolds,  Dr. 
Bates,  and  Mr.  Baxter.  It  gave  a  short  his- 
tory of  the  conference  and  its  unsuccessful 
issue,  and  concluded  by  praying,  that  the 
benefit  of  the  king's  "  Declaration'^  might 
be  continued  to  the  people,  and  that  the  ad- 
ditions promised  in  it  might  be  bestowed. 
It  does  not  appear  that  the  king  said  any 
thing  of  importance  at  the  winding  up  of  the 
affair.  He  parted  with  the  ministers  civilly, 
but  with  a  full  determination  to  pursue  such 
measures,  as,  (to  adopt  the  expression  of  his 
9 


LIFE  OF  THE 


grandfather  respecting  the  Puritans,)  would 
"drive  them  out  of  the  kingdom,  or  do 
worse.'^ 

For  a  while  hopes  were  entertained,  that 
the  parliament  might  pass  the  "  Declaration" 
into  a  law;  but  in  this  they  soon  found  them- 
selves in  a  mistake;  and  instead  of  having 
their  burdens  made  lighter  than  before,  they 
were  made  ten  times  heavier.    The  convo-  | 
cation  made  the  Prayer  Book  more  grievous  j 
than  ever,  and  the  parliament  passed  a  new  . 
act  of  conformity,  with  a  new  form  of  sub-  | 
scription,  and  a  new  declaration  to  be  made  | 
against  the  covenant.  So  that  the  king's  de-    I  i 
claration  not  only  died  before  it  came  into 
execution,  but  a  weight  more  grievous  than  I 
a  thousand  ceremonies  was  added  to  the  old 
conformity,  with  a  heavy  penalty,  \ 

We  have  seen  that  Baxter's  highest  ambi- 
tion was  to  be  restored  to  Kidderminster. 
For  this  he  petitioned,  and  would  have  been 
content,  even  to  be  the  curate  of  the  old  vi- 
car; a  man  of  no  talents  or  worth,  and  to- 
tally unqualified  for  the  place  which  he  occu- 
pied. He  did  attempt  once  a  quarter  to  read  ^ 
some  sort  of  a  discourse,  which  however,  ^ 
only  caused  the  people  to  laugh  at  him.  | 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


99 


Both  the  king  and  Lord  Chancellor  appear  to 
have  been  willing  for  Baxter  to  return ;  but 
the  thing  was  effectually  prevented  by  the 
opposition  of  Sir  Ralph  Clare,  an  old  courtier, 
who  resided  there,  and  was  the  patron  of 
the  old  vicar.  This  man  did  not  like  to  have 
Baxter  so  near  to  him;  and  by  representing 
to  bishop  Morley,  that  the  people  of  Kidder- 
minster were  disposed  to  be  factious  and 
schismatic,  and  that  Baxter  had  a  complete 
ascendancy  over  them,  he  effected  it,  that 
every  overture  made  for  Baxter's  restoration 
to  his  people  was  rejected;  although  the  Lord 
Chancellor  himself  wrote  a  kind  and  entreat- 
ing letter  to  Sir  Ralph  Clare  in  favour  of 
Baxter.  When  all  plans  had  failed,  Baxter 
paid  a  visit  to  Kidderminster,  and  begged  the 
vicar  to  permit  him  to  take  the  lecture,  which 
he  had  before  had;  but  he  refused.  He  then 
offered  to  be  his  curate,  but  this  he  also  re- 
fused; and  finally  he  offered  to  preach  with- 
out any  compensation,  whatever,  but  even 
this  was  not  permitted.  There  can  be  no 
doubt,  that  the  old  vicar  in  the  whole  affair, 
acted  under  the  influence  of  Clare  and  Mor- 
ley, who  had  hitherto  so  effectually  hindered 
the  return  of  Baxter  to  his  beloved  people. 


100 


LIFE  OF  THE 


In  carrying  his  end,  Sir  Ralph  Clare  was  in 
no  way  scrupulous  about  the  truth  and  cor- 
rectness of  his  reports.  In  several  instances, 
Baxter  convicted  him  of  manifest  falsehood. 
On  one  occasion  he  represented,  that  out 
of  sixteen  hundred  communicants,  only  six 
hundred  were  for  Baxter;  and  that  he  had 
refused  when  he  lived  there  to  adminis- 
ter the  communion  to  any  person  kneeling; 
whereas,  he  had  published  from  the  pulpit, 
repeatedly,  that  they  were  permitted  to  re- 
ceive the  eucharist,  in  any  posture  which 
they  chose  ;  and  to  show  how  false  was  the 
report,  that  most  of  the  people  were  opposed 
to  him,  his  friends  carried  about  a  paper  in 
which  the  subscribers  expressed  their  earnest 
desire  for  his  return,  to  which  sixteen  hun- 
dred out  of  eighteen  hundred  persons  put 
their  names;  and  the  greater  part  of  the  re- 
mainder, were  from  home  or  could  not  be 
seen.  And  instead  of  a  general  disaffection, 
which  Clare  had  asserted,  he  declares,  that 
he  had  heard  of  but  one  man  who  was  op- 
posed to  his  return,  and  that  was  a  man  who 
had  lately  come  to  the  town,  and  was  a  bi- 
gotted  Roman  Catholic.  Although  all  pros- 
pect of  returning  to  Kidderminster  was  gone, 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  101 

yet  Baxter  seemed  unwilling  to  take  any- 
other  charge,  and  for  a  while,  preached  in 
London,  wherever  he  found  an  opportunity; 
but  after  some  time  he  judged  it  best  to  have 
a  place  of  stated  preaching,  and  he  united 
with  Dr.  Bates,  in  the  lecture  of  St.  Dun- 
stan  in  the  West,  where  he  preached  once  a 
week,  and  the  people  gave  him  some  main- 
tenance. 

While  preaching  here,  one  day,  some  bricks 
and  dust  fell  down  in  the  steeple  or  belfry, 
on  which  the  people  thought  the  steeple  was 
falling,  and  as  is  usual  on  such  occasions,  a 
dreadful  rush  and  tumult  took  place;  and 
the  noise  in  the  gallery  led  the  people  below 
to  think,  that  the  church  was  falling.  While 
the  people  were  thus  thrown  into  horrible 
confusion;  so  that  some  precipitated  them- 
selves from  the  gallery  into  the  body  of  the 
church,  Baxter  sat  down  composedly  in  the 
pulpit,  until  the  whole  disturbance  was  over. 
The  people  were  scarcely  quietly  seated 
again,  before  a  bench  on  which  many  were 
sitting  near  the  communion  table,  broke,  and 
a  second  rush  and  tumult  took  place,  even 
worse  than  the  first.  On  this  second  distur- 
bance, an  old  woman  was  heard  to  ask  God 


102 


LIFE  OF  THE 


forgiveness  for  not  taking  the  first  warning, 
and  promising,  if  God  would  deliver  her,  this 
once,  to  take  heed  of  coming  hither  again. 
When  the  people  were  composed,  Baxter  re- 
sumed his  discourse,  by  saying,  "  We  are  in 
the  service  of  God  to  prepare  ourselves  that 
we  may  be  fearless  at  the  great  noise  of  the 
dissolving  world,  when  the  heavens  shall  pass 
away,  and  the  elements  melt  with  fervent 
heat."  While  the  church  of  St.  Dunstan's 
was  repairing,  he  preached  at  St.  Bride's,  at 
the  other  end  of  Fleet  street,  where  the  curate 
read  the  Common  Prayer  regularly  before 
sermon.  He  was  therefore,  the  occasion  of 
many  attending  on  this  service,  who  were 
not  in  the  habit  of  doing  so. 

Mr.  Ashurst  and  about  twenty  others  in- 
vited him  to  preach  on  a  week  day,  in  Milk 
street,  for  which  service  he  received  £40; 
and  he  did  so  until  he  was  silenced  the  next 
year.  That  he  might,  as  far  as  possible,  act 
consistently  with  the  laws,  he  went  to  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and  requested  a 
license  to  preach, which  the  archbishop  very 
readily  granted.  But  as  Baxter  was  uni- 
formly attended  by  crowded  audiences,  the 
envy  of  the  regular  clergy  was  excited,  and 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  103 

the  spies  of  the  bishops  often  reported  him 
as  a  dangerous  and  seditious  man;  so  that 
frequently  he  thought  it  necessary  to  pub- 
lish the  sermons  which  they  misrepresented. 
Even  his  private  letters  to  his  family  were 
intercepted,  and  though  found  to  contain 
nothing  factious  or  treasonable,  were  sent 
round  among  the  bishops,  which  shows  what 
a  jealousy  they  entertained  of  his  influence. 
Frequently  he  was  threatened  with  an  arrest; 
and  on  a  certain  occasion,  a  knight  ofi'ered 
the  Bishop  of  Worcester  his  troop  of  horse 
to  apprehend  him.  At  length  Bishop  Morley 
prohibited  him  from  preaching  in  his  diocese, 
although  Baxter  ofi'ered  to  promise  that  he 
would  confine  his  preaching  to  the  creed, 
commandments,  and  Lord's  prayer. 

Baxter  was  now  completely  shut  out  from 
his  old  flock,  to  whom  he  had,  till  this  time, 
occasionally  ministered.  They  parted,  as 
may  be  supposed,  with  great  reluctance,  and 
much  grief  and  many  tears.  Their  situation 
was  more  distressing,  from  the  fact  that  Mr. 
Baldwin,  who  had  succeeded  Mr.  Baxter  in 
the  lecture,  and  of  whom,  as  a  scholar  and 
good  preacher,  we  have  already  spoken,  was 


104 


LIFE  OF  THE 


also  forbidden  to  preach,  by  the  bishop;  yet 
he  remained  at  Kidderminster  as  a  private 
person,  and  visited  the  people  in  their  houses. 
The  minister  brought  in  was  a  man  altoge- 
ther insufficient,  not  being  capable  of  teach- 
ing even  the  fundamental  points  of  religion; 
and  would  often  preach  in  direct  opposition 
to  the  articles  of  the  church,  and  in  his  appli- 
cations did  what  he  could  to  bring  an  odium 
on  a  holy  life,  to  keep  men  fromi  it,  and  to 
promote  the  interests  of  Satan. 

But  now  the  fatal  day  of  St.  Bartholomew 
arrived,  when  the  act  of  conformity  was 
to  go  into  operation.  This  memorable  day, 
which  witnessed  above  two  thousand  of  the 
most  learned  and  pious  ministers  of  England 
ejected  from  their  charges,  and  cast,  without 
resources,  upon  the  wide  world,  was  August 
24th,  1662,  being  the  very  day  of  the  year 
in  which  the  Huguenots,  a  century  before, 
were  so  cruelly  murdered  by  the  Papists,  in 
France.  Baxter,  as  soon  as  the  act  passed, 
ceased  from  preaching,  for  the  present,  as  he 
wished  to  let  it  be  seen  that  he  did  not  con- 
form; and  as  he  did  not  wish  that  the  ene- 
mies of  the  non-conformists  should  have  any 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  105 

occasion  against  them,  for  disobedience  to  the 
laws.* 

Many  of  the  silenced  ministers  were  equal 
in  learning  and  abilities  to  any  of  the  Epis- 
copalians. Baxter,  Calamy,  Owen,  Bates, 
and  Howe,  were  as  capable  of  forming  en- 
larged and  comprehensive  views  of  truth  and 
duty,  as  Pearson,  Gunning,  Morley,  or  any 
others  of  the  high  church  party;  while,  as  it 
regards  the  evidences  of  Christian  character 
and  devotedness,  there  were  few  of  the  class 
from  which  they  seceded,  who  can  compare 
with  them. 

Baxter  informs  us  that  good  old  Simeon 
Ashe  died  on  the  eve  of  St.  Bartholomew's 
day;  and  was  thus  taken  away  from  the  evil 
to  come. 

As  they  were  forbidden  to  preach,  so  they 
were  privately  watched,  that  they  might  not 
exhort  one  another,  or  pray  together;  and 
every  meeting  for  prayer  was  considered  a 
seditious  meeting,  and  was  called  by  the 

*  That  the  non-conformist  ministers  had  justifiable 
grounds  for  separating  from  the  Church  of  England,  is  a 
point  which  we  do  not  mean  to  discuss;  but  whoever 
wishes  to  see  the  reasons  of  their  conduct  clearly  set  forth, 
may  consult  the  tenth  chapter  of  Calamy 's  Abridgement. 


106 


LIFE  OF  THE 


odious  name  of  a  "  Conventicle.^'  In  regard 
to  the  vigilance  and  jealousy  exercised  over 
the  ejected  ministers,  Mr.  Baxter  relates  the 
following  fact :  "  One  Mr.  Beale,  in  Hatton 
Garden,  having  a  son,  his  only  child,  sick  of 
a  fever,  and  brought  so  low  that  the  physi- 
cians thought  he  would  die,  desired  a  few 
friends  to  meet  at  his  house  to  pray  for  him. 
As  it  pleased  God  to  hear  our  pra^^ers,  and 
to  restore  the  child,  and  his  mother  shortly 
after  falling  sick  of  a  fever,  we  were  again 
requested  to  meet  at  the  house  and  pray  for 
her  recovery,  the  last  day  when  she  was  ne£ir 
to  death.  It  happened  that  Dr.  Bates  and 
myself  were  not  able  to  attend;  but  it  being 
understood  that  we  were  to  be  there,  two 
justices  were  procured  from  the  other  end  of 
the  town,  to  come  with  the  sergeant-at-arms 
of  the  Parliament,  to  apprehend  us.  When 
they  came,  most  of  the  company  were  dis- 
persed, except  a  few  of  their  kindred,  and 
three  ministers  who  remained  to  pray.  These 
officers  came  into  the  very  room  where  the 
sick  woman  was  dying,  and  took  down  the 
names  of  such  as  were  present;  but  were 
evidently  disappointed.  What  an  occasion 
would  it  have  been  to  them  that  reproached 


REV.  RICHAKD  BAXTER.  107 

US  as  Presbyterian,  seditious  schismatics,  to 
have  found  us  praying  with  a  dying  woman, 
that  they  might  cast  us  into  prison!'^ 

In  the  year  1663,  Dr.  Juxon,  archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  died,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Sheldon.  About  this  time  there  were  fre- 
quent rumours  of  an  indulgence  or  compre- 
hensive, to  be  granted  to  the  silenced  minis- 
ters: but  instead  of  liberty,  their  yoke  was 
made  heavier;  for  a  bill  against  private 
meetings  passed  the  House  of  Commons,  and 
shortly  after  became  a  law.  The  sum  of  it 
was  "  that  every  person  above  sixteen  years 
old,  who  should  be  present  at  any  meeting 
under  colour  or  pretext  of  religion,  in  other 
manner  than  is  allowed  by  the  liturgy  or 
practice  of  the  Church  of  England,  where 
there  are  five  persons  more  than  the  house- 
hold, shall,  for  the  first  offence,  by  a  justice 
of  peace,  be  recorded,  and  sent  to  jail  three 
months,  till  he  pay  five  pounds;  and  for  the 
second  offence  six  months,  till  he  pay  ten 
pounds;  and  the  third  time  being  convicted 
by  a  jury,  shall  be  banished  to  some  of  the 
American  plantations,  excepting  New  Eng- 
land, or  Virginia.'^  The  misery  of  the  peo- 
ple under  this  act  was,  that  no  one  could 


108 


LIFE  OP  THE 


tell  what  it  meant;  for  the  liturgy  intermed- 
dles not  with  the  interior  of  families;  and  in 
this  diversity  of  family  customs,  no  one  knew 
what  the  practice  of  the  Church  was.  Be- 
sides it  was  a  tyrannical  law,  as  it  gave 
power  to  justices  to  record,  fine,  and  impri- 
son a  man,  without  a  jury,  for  the  first  and 
second  ofTence.  This  trial  fell  upon  the  peo- 
ple, as  well  as  the  ministers;  but  they  were 
very  courageous,  and  exhorted  them  to  stand 
it  out  and  preach  until  they  were  sent  to 
prison,  while  the  whip  was  off  their  back; 
but  when  it  came  to  their  own  case,  and 
some  of  them  had  been  seized  and  sent  to 
prison,  their  tone  was  greatly  changed,  and 
they  now  thought  it  better  for  the  ministers 
to  preach  often  to  a  few  in  secret,  than  but 
once  or  twice  in  public  to  many.  Indeed, 
the  people  were  now  in  a  great  strait  to 
know  what  to  do.  Some  thought  that  if 
they  met  in  separate  but  contiguous  houses, 
the  law  could  not  take  hold  of  them;  but 
then  it  was  remarked,  that  the  sole  power  of 
judging  was  given  to  the  justices  to  deter- 
mine what  constituted  an  unlawful  meeting. 
Great  lawyers  gave  their  opinion,  that  per- 
sons coming  to  a  house  on  business,  could 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  109 


not  fall  under  the  penalty  of  this  law ;  but 
this  was  all  wind;  for  still  the  justices  had 
the  power  of  determining  every  thing. 

Some  division  in  favour  of  the  non-confor- 
mists now  took  place,  by  reason  of  the  fa- 
natical and  extravagant  behaviour  of  the 
Quakers,  who  seemed  to  glory  in  their  sulfer- 
ings ;  and  assembled  boldly  at  public  places, 
and  were  daily  dragged  away  to  prison. 

Baxter  and  Bates  were  in  the  habit  of  at- 
tending the  common  prayer,  in  the  parish 
churches;  but  this  was  so  far  from  mitigating 
the  opposition  to  them,  that  it  increased  it. 
And  there  was  in  this  the  appearance  of  in- 
consistency ;  for  if  it  was  not  sinful  to  conform 
one  day,  it  would  not  be  to  conform  alto- 
gether. The  reason  why  the  Episcopalians 
disliked  them  the  more  on  this  account,  was, 
that  they  feared  their  influence  would  be 
greater.  No  doubt  they  acted  conscien- 
tiously, but  the  expediency  of  their  conduct 
may  well  be  doubted;  and  it  is  certain,  that 
by  this  course  they  offended  both  churchmen 
and  dissenters. 

The  great  plague  in  London  was  a  memo- 
rable event,  which  drove  from  the  city,  nearly 
all  the  parochial  clergy;  but  a  number  of  the 


110 


LIFE  OP  THE 


non-conformist  ministers  remained  and  occu- 
pied the  deserted  pulpits,  and  preached  with 
extraordinary  effect.  Among  these  Mr.  Vin- 
cent deserves  the  first  place.  Baxter  had  re- 
tired to  Acton,  on  account  of  his  heahh,  and 
for  the  sake  of  leisure,  before  the  plague 
broke  out.  Here,  he  spent  several  years 
diligently  occupied  in  the  composition  of  re- 
ligious books.  Here  he  composed  his  great 
work  of  practical  divinity,  called,  "The 
Christian  Directory,"  which  will  remain 
a  monument  of  his  piety,  sagacity,  and  know- 
ledge of  the  Scriptures  and  of  the  human 
heart.  To  learn  whether  he  could  get  it 
licensed,  he  offered  a  single  treatise  to  Mr. 
Grig,  who  had  been  a  non-conformist,  but 
was  now  chaplain  to  the  Bishop  of  London; 
and  who  professed  a  great  regard  for  Baxter. 
He  informed  him,  that  he  durst  not  license 
it.  But  some  practical  tracts  which  he  sent 
without  a  name  to  the  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury, were  licensed;  although  accident- 
ally, they  were  known  to  be  his. 

So  vigilant  was  the  watch  over  these  silenc- 
ed ministers  that  they  were  scarcely  permit- 
ted to  preach  to  their  own  families  if  a  few 
others  happened  to  be  present.    One  day  an 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  HI 

ancient  gentlewoman  came  to  Baxter's  house 
while  he  was  engaged  in  worship ;  but  her 
knock  not  being  heard  or  attended  to,  she 
did  not  get  in  until  the  service  was  over  ; 
when  she  expressed  so  strong  a  desire  to  hear 
him,  that  he  appointed  a  day,  on  which  she 
might  attend ;  but  before  it  arrived,  he  re- 
ceived an  intimation  that  she  was  actuated 
by  the  most  malignant  motives,  and  was  act- 
ing as  a  spy  upon  him;  and  so  that  danger 
was  avoided.  Several  learned  theologians, 
in  foreign  parts,  wished  to  carry  on  a  literary 
correspondence  with  Baxter ;  among  whom 
were  Amyraut,  and  Zollikoffer,  but  he  durst 
not  engage  in  such  a  correspondence,  lest  his 
motives  should  be  misrepresented. 

The  judgments  of  God  by  the  plague  did 
not  lead  the  English  government  to  exercise 
justice  towards  the  suffering  Diss.enters.  The 
parliament,  being  driven  from  London,  re- 
tired to  Oxford,  where  the  king,  removed 
from  the  personal  danger  of  the  plague,  was 
busy  in  contriving  an  act,  to  make  the  case 
of  the  silenced  ministers  incomparably  har- 
der than  it  was  before,  by  imposing  upon 
them  an  oath,  which  if  they  refused,  "  they 
must  not  come,  except  on  the  road,  within 


112 


LIFE  OF  THE 


five  miles  of  any  city,  or  of  any  corporation, 
or  any  place  that  sendeth  burgesses  to  par- 
liament; or  to  any  place  where  they  had 
preached  since  the  act  of  oblivion."  The 
promoters  of  this  most  iniquitous  law,  are 
said  to  have  been  Sheldon,  archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  and  Ward,  bishop  of  Salisbury. 
It  was  promoted  also  by  Lord  Chancellor 
Hyde;  but  was  strenuously  opposed  in  the 
House  of  Lords,  by  the  Earl  of  Southampton, 
Lord  Treasurer  of  England ;  for  although  he 
had  always  adhered  to  the  king,  he  knew 
what  good  policy  required,  and  what  was 
due  to  humanity.  The  act  passed  however 
into  a  law. 

The  oath  prescribed  was  in  the  following 
words,  "  I,  A.  B.  do  swear  that  it  is  not  law- 
ful, upon  any  pretence  whatsoever,  to  take 
arms  against  the  king ;  and  that  I  do  abhor 
that  traitorous  position  of  taking  arms  by 
his  authority  against  his  person,  or  against 
those  that  are  commissioned  by  him,  in  pur- 
suance of  such  commission;  and  that  I  will 
not,  at  any  time,  endeavour  any  alteration 
of  the  government  either  in  church  or  state." 

It  is  hard  to  tell,  whether  the  impiety,  the 
folly,  or  the  cruelty  of  this  oath  is  the  great- 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  113 

est.  Baxter  submitted  a  number  of  queries 
to  Sergeant  Fountain,  respecting  the  true 
construction  of  this  oath,  to  which  he  receiv- 
ed learned  and  detailed  answers ;  but  after 
all  explanations  he  could  not  agree  to  take  it. 
Sheldon  determined  to  execute  this  act  rigor- 
ously; and  his  orders  to  the  bishops  were 
issued  accordingly;  requiring  among  other 
things,  the  names  of  all  the  ejected  ministers, 
in  their  several  dioceses,  with  the  place  of 
their  abode,  and  manner  of  life.  Many, 
however,  received  such  an  interpretation  of 
this  oath,  that  they  were  induced  to  take  it, 
among  whom  was  Dr.  Bates.  His  reasons 
may  be  seen  in  a  letter  addressed  to  Baxter, 
on  the  occasion.  The  reasons  of  the  latter 
for  declining  are  far  stronger.  The  oath  was 
a  wicked  device  to  ensnare  or  injure  the  si- 
lenced ministers;  and  the  taking  of  it,  in  no 
case  added  to  the  reputation  of  those  who 
did  it. 

The  plague  having  ceased,  Baxter  return- 
ed to  Acton,  from  which  he  had  been  driven 
by  this  dreadful  scourge:  when  he  came 
back  the  burying  ground  appeared  like  a 
plowed  field  so  great  was  the  number  of 
fresh  graves. 

10 


114 


LIFE  OP  THE 


In  the  year  1666,  September  2d,  after  mid- 
night, London  was  set  on  fire,  when,  for 
three  days,  the  conflagration  raged  with  in- 
creasing violence,  until  almost  all  the  city 
within  the  walls,  and  much  without  them, 
was  burnt.  The  people  for  want  of  or- 
ganization could  do  nothing  to  resist  the 
raging  element.  The  engines  were  out  of 
order,  or  could  not  be  worked  for  want  of 
skill.  Most  of  the  booksellers  brought  their 
books  into  the  vaults  under  St.  Paul's  church, 
where  it  was  thought  almost  impossible  the 
fire  should  come.  But  when  the  church  it- 
self was  burnt  all  the  books  were  destroyed, 
which  was  not  only  a  great  private,  but  an  ir- 
reparable public  loss.  The  burning  leaves  of 
some  of  these  books  were  picked  up  at  the 
distance  of  twenty  miles  from  London.  The 
fire  met  with  no  check,  until  some  of  the 
seamen  taught  them  to  blow  up  some  of  the 
houses  with  gunpowder;  though  in  some  di- 
rections it  is  said  to  have  stopped,  as  it  began, 
without  any  known  cause.  Baxter  fully  be- 
lieved that  the  city  was  set  on  fire  by  the 
Papists;  and  that  this  was  the  common  be- 
lief, is  manifest  from  the  inscription  on  the 
monument;  built  on  purpose  to  commemo- 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  115 


rate  this  event;  but  of  the  fact  there  exists 
not  a  particle  of  evidence;  and  what  incen- 
diary could  have  calculated  upon  the  devas- 
tation of  this  fire  before  hand?  But  some 
good  arose  out  of  this  great  disaster ;  for  the 
churches  being  now  burnt,  and  the  parish 
ministers  scattered,  the  non-conformists,  were 
determined  to  go  on  and  preach  to  the  people, 
until  they  were  imprisoned.  Dr.  Manton 
had  his  rooms  full  in  Covent  Garden,  Mr. 
Thom.as  Vincent,  Mr.  Thomas  Doolittle,  Dr. 
Samuel  Annesley,  Mr.  Wadsworth,  Mr.  Jane- 
way,  Mr.  Chester,  Mr.  Franklin,  Mr.  Tur- 
ner, Mr.  Grimes,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Vincent,  Dr. 
Jacomb,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Watson,  with 
many  others,  kept  their  meetings  open,  and 
fitted  up  large  rooms  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  hearers;  and  some  who  were  able 
erected  chapels,  furnished  with  pulpits,  gal- 
leries, seats,  &c.  The  Independents  also  set 
up  their  meetings.  Mr.  Griffiths,  Mr.  Brooks, 
Mr.  Caryl,  Mr.  Barker,  Dr.  Owen,  Mr.  Philip 
Nye,  and  Dr.  Thomas  Goodwin,  all  came  to 
the  city  of  London.  It  was  also  a  favoura- 
ble circumstance  that  those  churches  which 
remained  had  the  best  of  the  conformist  min- 
isters, for  their  pastors;  such  as  Dr.  Stilling- 


116 


LIFE  OP  THE 


fleet,  Dr.  Tillotson,  Mr.  White,  Dr.  Outram, 
Dr.  Patrick,  Mr.  Gifford,  Dr.  Whitchcot,  Dr. 
Horton,  Dr.  Nest,  &:c.  Persons  of  moderate 
principles  heard  the  conformists  and  non- 
conformists indifferently,  but  the  high  church 
party  declaimed  against  all  meetings  not 
under  the  wing  of  Episcopacy,  as  sedi- 
tious, schismatic,  and  unlawful  conventicles; 
while  some  on  the  other  extreme  would  hear 
none  of  the  ministers  who  conformed  to  the 
established  Church. 

Some  new  rumors  were  again  afloat  re- 
specting religious  liberty  and  toleration;  but 
the  leaders  of  the  Episcopal  party  wrote  ve- 
hemently against  it;  and  began  now  not  to 
wish  to  have  the  non-conformist  ministers  in 
the  church,  on  any  terms.  Several  pamphlets 
were  published  for  and  against  toleration. 
Some  too,  who  were  for  free  discussions  in 
philosophy,  and  especially  such  as  were  ad- 
mirers of  Des  Cartes,  and  were  at  first  called 
Latitudinarians  and  Cambridge  Arminians, 
being  not  so  strict  in  their  theology  or  way 
of  piety,  as  some,  thought  that  conformity 
was  too  small  a  matter  to  keep  them  out  of 
the  ministry.  "  But  afterwards  they  grew," 
says  Baxter,  "  into  a  distaste  of  the  weakness 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  H? 

of  many  Christians,  who  used  some  harsh 
phrases  in  prayer,  preaching,  and  discourse. 
Hence  they  contracted  a  dislike  to  the  doc- 
trines and  mode  of  worshipping  pursued  by 
tlieir  more  serious  brethren."  The  men  to 
whom  he  refers  asLatitudinarians,  were  such 
as  Dr.  More,  Worlhington,  Whitchcot,  Cud- 
worth,  Wilkins,  who  were  mostly  of  Cam- 
bridge, and  about  this  time  introduced  a  cold, 
philosophical,  inefficient  mode  of  preaching 
into  the  English  pulpit. 

It  was  a  remarkable  dispensation  of  Pro- 
vidence, that  Chancellor  Hyde  who  had  been 
so  powerful  an  instrument  in  the  persecution 
of  the  non-conformists,  should  now  fall  en- 
tirely into  disgrace  with  his  own  party.  As 
soon  as  the  Duke  of  Buckingham  came  into 
power,  he  began  to  show  indulgence  to  all 
Dissenters;  and  pursued  a  policy,  the  reverse 
of  that  which  Hyde  had  considered  necessary. 
The  ministers  of  London  were  now  connived 
at,  and  held  their  religious  meetings  without 
disturbance.  Some  attributed  this  change  to 
the  king,  some  to  the  Duke  of  Buckingham, 
and  others  to  a  wish  to  favour  the  papists. 

About  this  time,  a  proposal  was  received 
of  a  plan  of  comprehending  the  non-confor- 


118 


LIFE  OF  THE 


mists  in  the  church.  This  was  communicated 
from  the  Lord  Treasurer,  through  Sir  John 
Babor.  who  wished  to  know  what  terms 
would  satisfy  the  Dissenters.  They  propos- 
ed that  two  moderate  and  learned  men  should 
be  appointed  to  confer  with  Dr.  Manton,  Dr. 
Bates,  and  Mr.  Baxter.  Accordingly,  bishop 
Wilkins  and  his  chaplain,  were  sent  to  the 
non-conformist  ministers.  The  bishop  was  an 
open  hearted,  generous  man,  and  the  whole 
thing  had  proceeded  from  him.  He  request- 
ed them  to  state  their  terms;  which  he  pro- 
nounced to  be  altogether  incapable  of  being 
received;  and  then  he  proposed  his  own  plan 
of  a  comprehension.  After  this  conference, 
lie  disclosed  the  plan  to  Dr.  Ward,  in  the 
hope  of  bringing  him  into  the  scheme ;  but 
he  revealed  it  to  the  other  bishops,  who  im- 
mediately set  themselves  to  defeat  it.  A  bill 
had  been  prepared,  and  judge  Hales  was  to 
have  introduced  it  into  the  House  of  Lords. 
As  soon  as  the  parliament  met,  this  plan  of 
an  indulgence  and  comprehension,  was  ru- 
moured among  the  members:  and  to  crush 
the  aflfair  in  the  bud,  a  resolution  was  pro- 
posed, that  no  man  should  bring  such  a  bill 
into  the  house.    And  Dr.  Sheldon,  the  more 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  119 

effectually  to  crush  the  non-conformists,  sent 
a  circular  to  all  the  bishops,  calling  on  them 
to  send  up  an  account  of  the  conventicles,  in 
their  respective  dioceses,  and  how  many  at- 
tended them,  and  whether  they  could  easily 
be  suppressed  by  the  magistrate.  When  he 
received  the  information  which  he  wanted, 
he  went  to  the  king,  and  got  a  proclamation 
issued  to  put  the  laws  in  force  against  all 
non-conformists,  and  especially,  against  the 
preachers,  according  to  the  statute,  which 
forbad  their  living  in  corporate  towns.  The 
treaty  for  a  comprehension  amused  for  a 
while,  but  like  all  similar  plans  came  to  no- 
thing. Although  bishop  Wilkins'  plan  did 
not  come  fully  up  to  the  wishes  of  the  mi- 
nisters; yet  they  would  have  very  gladly 
availed  themselves  of  it,  "  How  joyfully,'* 
says  Mr.  Baxter,  "  would  fourteen  hundred 
at  least  of  the  non-conformist  ministers  of 
England  have  yielded  to  these  terms  if  they 
could  have  got  them.  But  alas!  all  this  la- 
bour was  in  vain !  For  the  prelates  and  pre- 
latists  so  far  prevailed,  that  as  soon  as  ever 
the  parliament  met,  they  prevented  all  talk 
or  motion  of  such  a  thing."  "  In  April  1663, 
Dr.  Creighton,  dean  of  Wells,  the  loquacious 


120 


LIFE  OF  THE 


and  ready  tongued  court  preacher,  who  was 
used  to  preach  Calvin  to  hell,  and  Calvinists 
to  the  gallows,  and  by  his  scornful  revilings 
and  jests,  to  set  the  court  on  laughter,  was 
suddenly,  in  the  pulpit,  without  any  sickness, 
surprised  with  atonishment,  worse  than  Dr. 
South  the  Oxford  orator,  had  been,  before 
him.  When  he  had  repeated  a  sentence  over 
and  over,  he  was  so  confounded,  he  could  go 
no  further  at  all,  and  was  fain,  to  all  men's 
wonder,  to  come  down.  His  case  was  more 
wonderful  than  almost  any  other  man's,  be- 
ing not  only  a  fluent  extempore  speaker,  but 
one  that  was  never  known  to  want  words, 
especially,  to  express  his  satirical,  or  bloody 
thoughts." 

The  Presbyterian  ministers  were  informed 
that  the  king  would  now  very  gladly  receive 
an  address  from  them,  as  he  was  much  in- 
clined to  favour  them.  They  were  informed 
that  the  address  must  be  a  thankful  acknow- 
ledgment of  his  majesty's  clemency,  and  of 
the  liberty  which,  under  his  gracious  admi- 
nistration, they  were  permitted  to  enjoy. 
Such  an  address  was  accordingly  prepared, 
and  was  presented  by  Dr.  Manton,  Dr.  Bates, 
Dr.  Jacomb,  and  Mr.  Ennis.    Mr.  Baxter 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  121 

excused  himself  from  taking  any  part  in  this 
business,  on  account  of  ill-heahh;  because, 
in  all  former  cases,  whatever  he  had  touched 
of  this  kind,  had  utterly  failed,  and  disap- 
pointed all  their  hopes. 

The  address  was  most  graciously  received, 
and  Charles  played  the  hypocrite  with  con- 
summate art.  After  all,  things  remained  as 
they  were  before.  Much  discussion  took 
place,  and  many  pamphlets  were  written 
against  toleration.  The  writers  gathered 
out  of  the  writings  of  Baxter,  and  other  non- 
conformists, all  that  they  had  ever  written 
against  the  toleration  of  Papists  and  Quakers, 
and  now  turned  their  own  weapons  against 
themselves.  These  thrusts  were  hard  to 
parry  by  all  those  who,  like  Baxter,  advo- 
cated a  half-way  toleration. 

While  Baxter  lived  at  Acton,  he  preached 
to  his  own  family,  but  few  of  the  inhabitants 
showed  any  inclination  to  attend;  first,  be- 
cause they  did  not  wish  to  involve  him  in 
difficulty;  and  secondly,  because  they  were 
afraid  of  bringing  themselves  under  the  lash 
of  the  Conventicle  law.  They  were,  more- 
over, an  ignorant  people,  who  knew  very 
little  of  the  value  of  the  gospel.  But  when 
U 


122 


LIFE  OF  THE 


the  Conventicle  act  had  expired,  by  its  own 
Hmitation,  and  he  preached  publicly,  many 
came,  so  that  his  house  was  insufficient  to 
contain  them.  When  they  had  come  once, 
they  appeared  to  desire  to  come  again ;  and 
a  great  number  of  them  seemed  to  be  seri- 
ously affected  with  the  things  which  they 
heard.  Many  came  from  Brentford  and  the 
neighbouring  towns;  and  in  all  the  town, 
there  were  not  found  any  who  showed  them- 
selves adversaries  to  the  preacher.  Here 
Mr.  Baxter  became  acquainted  with  Chief 
Justice  Hale,  one  of  the  best  and  greatest 
men  that  England  ever  produced.  Baxter 
has  given  a  portraiture  of  his  character,  with 
a  bold  but  just  pencil. 

Having  incidentally  mentioned  Baxter's 
^family,  we  are  admonished  that  we  have 
omitted,  in  its  proper  place,  an  account  of  a 
very  extraordinary  event  in  his  Hfe.  We 
refer  to  his  marriage.  The  report  of  it,  be- 
fore it  occurred,  was  rung  about  through  the 
country,  as  though  it  had  been  a  great  won- 
der, or  a  great  crime ;  so  that  the  king's  mar- 
riage was  hardly  more  talked  of  than  his. 
This  is  not  very  wonderful,  when  it  is  con- 
sidered that  he  had  written  earnestly  against 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  123 


ministers'  marrying;  which,  indeed,  he  seem- 
ed to  consider  as  barely  lawful  in  any  case. 
He  had  remained  single  through  his  earlier 
and  middle  age;  and  now,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
seven,  to  marry  a  young  wife,  not  half  as  old. 
as  himself,  seemed  to  be  a  strange  thing. 
But  it  is  not  to  be  marvelled  at,  of  any  man, 
that,  once  in  his  life,  he  should  play  the  fool. 
This  would  here  appear  to  be  the  fact,  in 
regard  to  Baxter;  for  it  was  scarcely  to  be 
expected  that,  considering  the  peculiarity  of 
his  temper,  and  that  his  habits  were  now 
fixed,  any  person  could  be  found,  with  whom 
an  alliance  could  be  formed,  likely  to  be  pro- 
ductive of  lasting  comfort  to  both  parties. 
But  such  a  person  was  found,  who  appears 
to  have  been  eminently  fitted  to  promote  the 
happiness  and  aid  the  usefulness  of  this  great 
and  excellent  man.  The  reader  will  not 
deem  an  account  of  this  matter  from  Baxter's 
own  pen,  tedious. 

"  We  were  born,"  says  he  "  in  the  same 
county,  within  three  miles  and  a  half  of 
each  other;  but  she  of  one  of  the  chief  fami- 
lies in  the  county,  and  I,  but  of  a  mean 
j     freeholder,  called  a  gentleman,  for  his  ances- 
I     tor's  sake.    Her  father,  Francis  Charlton, 


124 


LIFE  OP  THE 


was  one  of  the  best  justices  of  the  peace  in 
the  county,  a  grave  and  worthy  man,  who 
did  not  marry  until  he  was  aged  and  gray, 
and  died  while  his  children  were  very 
young.''  .  .  .  After  the  death  of  the  father, 
the  mother  took  a  house  in  Kidderminster, 
whither  her  daughter  followed  her.  Baxter's 
preaching  produced  a  deep  and  abiding  im- 
pression on  the  mind  of  Miss  Charlton,  and 
he  was  called  to  aid  in  relieving  her  mind 
from  the  distress  under  which  she  laboured. 
In  time  she  became  an  eminent  Christian, 
and  though  young,  was  in  all  respects,  fitted 
to  be  the  wife  of  Richard  Baxter.  But  he 
must  be  permitted  to  give  his  own  account 
of  the  transaction.  "  The  unsuitableness  of 
our  age,  and  my  former  known  purposes 
against  the  conveniency  of  ministers  marry- 
ing, who  have  no  sort  of  necessity,  made 
ours  the  matter  of  much  public  talk  and 
wonder.  But  the  true  opening  of  her  case 
and  mine  would  take  away  the  wonder  of 
her  friends  and  mine,  that  knew  us — viz. 
the  many  strange  occurrences  which  brought 
it  to  pass;  and  the  notice  of  it  would  much 
conduce  to  the  understanding  of  many  other 
passages  in  our  lives;  yet  wise  friends,  by 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  125 

whom  I  am  advised,  think  it  better  to  omit 
such  personal  particularities.  Both  in  her 
case  and  mine  there  was  much  extraordinary, 
which  it  doth  not  concern  the  world  to  be 
acquainted  with.  From  the  first  thought  of 
it,  many  changes  and  stoppages  intervened, 
and  long  delays,  till  I  was  silenced  and  eject- 
ed: at  last  on  September  10th,  1662,  we 
were  married  in  Bennet-Fink  church,  by 
Mr.  Samuel  Clark,  having  been  before  con- 
tracted, by  Mr.  Simeon  Ash,  in  the  presence 
of  Henry  Ashurst  and  Mrs.  Ash." 

He  proposed,  before  their  marriage,  that 
she  should  agree  to  the  following  conditions: 
1.  That  he  should  possess  nothing  which 
was  hers,  before  marriage.  2.  That  she 
should  so  order  her  affairs,  that  he  should 
be  entangled  in  no  law-suit.  3.  That  she 
should  expect  none  of  his  time,  which  his 
ministry  required. 

"  When  we  were  married,"  says  he,  "  her 
sadness  and  melancholy  left  her.  Counsel 
did  something  to  it,  and  contentment  some- 
thing; and  being  taken  up  with  our  house- 
hold affairs,  did  something.  We  lived  in  in- 
violated  love,  and  mutual  complacency,  sen- 
sible of  the  benefit  of  mutual  help,  nearly 


126 


LIFE  OF  THE 


nineteen  years.  I  know  not  that  we  ever 
had  any  breach  in  point  of  love,  or  point  of 
interest,  save  only  that  she  grudged,  that  I 
had  persuaded  her  to  surrender  so  much  of 
her  estate,  to  the  disabling  her  from  helping 
others." 

The  married  life  of  Baxter  was  a  very  un- 
settled one,  so  that  for  most  of  the  time,  he 
might  be  said  to  have,  "no  certain  dwelling 
place."  About  the  year  1670,  Baxter  was 
imprisoned  for  holding  conventicles,  at  Ac- 
ton. The  prosecutor  was  a  certain  Dr. 
Ryves,  the  parson  of  that  parish,  who  was 
also  one  of  the  king's  chaplains.  He  was 
brought  before  the  justices,  at  Brentford,  and 
treated  very  indecorously,  on  the  trial.  He 
was  sent  by  mittimus  to  Clerkenwell  prison, 
for  holding  a  conventicle;  not  having  taken 
the  Oxford  oath.  Serjeant  Fountain  advised 
him  to  have  recourse  to  habeas  corpus,  and 
to  apply  for  it  to  the  court  of  Common  Pleas. 
He  did  so,  and  the  judges  released  him  on 
the  ground  that  the  mittimus  was  not  in 
legal  form,  but  announced  to  the  multitude 
who  attended  the  trial,  that  if  the  mittimus 
had  not  been  defective  in  point  of  law,  they 
could  not  have  released  the  reverend  gentle- 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  127 


man;  as  no  doubt  he  had  violated  the  law 
which  forbad  the  holding  of  conventicles. 

When  the  justices  saw  that  he  was  dis- 
charged, not  satisfied  to  have  driven  him 
from  Acton,  they  made  out  a  new  mittimus, 
naming  the  fourth  of  June,  as  the  day  on 
which  he  had  preached.  And  this  mittimus 
they  put  into  an  officer's  hands,  in  London, 
to  bring  him,  not  to  Clerkenwell,  but  to  New- 
gate prison,  which,  since  the  best  part  of  it 
was  burnt  down,  was  the  most  noisome  pri- 
son in  the  whole  country,  the  dungeon  of  the 
Tower  excepted. 

From  1665  to  1670,  Baxter  produced  some 
of  his  most  considerable  works,  as  his  "  Rea- 
sons for  the  Christian  Religion;"  "  Directions 
to  weak  Christians  how  to  grow  in  grace;" 
and  the  latter  part  of  the  ^'  Christian  Direc- 
tory;" the  "Life  of  Faith;"  the  "Cure  of 
Church  Divisions;"  and  some  others. 

During  this  period  also,  he  had  a  long 
discussion,  orally  and  in  writing,  with  Dr. 
Owen,  about  the  terms  of  agreement  among 
Christians  of  all  parties.  It  was  not  produc- 
tive of  any  practical  effect,  at  the  time;  and 
the  blame  of  the  failure,  Mr.  Baxter  lays 
upon  Owen.    These  two  great  men  differed, 


128 


LIFE  OP  THE 


not  in  essential  matters,  but  in  many  minor 
points;  and  more  in  disposition.  Owen  was 
calm,  dignified,  and  firm,  but  respectful  and 
courteous;  Baxter  was  keen  and  cutting  in 
his  reproofs,  sanguine  in  his  expectations, 
and  so  confident  of  his  own  sincerity,  as 
often  to  push  matters  too  far. 

In  the  year  1670,  the  act  against  conven- 
ticles was  renewed,  and  made  more  severe 
than  ever:  several  new  clauses  being  added, 
which  Baxter  believed  had  special  reference 
to  his  own  case.  This  new  law  was  exe- 
cuted with  great  rigour,  so  that  it  appeared 
to  be  the  design  of  the  government  to  extir- 
pate the  non-conformists.  Dr.  Manton  was 
imprisoned  for  six  months,  for  preaching  in 
his  own  house,  and  within  the  very  parish 
of  which  he  had  been  the  rector. 

After  Baxter's  release  from  prison,  he  re- 
sided at  Totteridge.  While  here  he  was 
sent  for  to  Barnet,  to  meet  Lauderdale,  who 
was  then  proceeding  to  Scotland,  to  make 
some  alterations  in  the  affairs  of  that  coun- 
try. By  the  king's  permission  he  consulted 
Baxter,  and  offered  him,  if  he  would  go  to 
Scotland,  a  bishopric,  a  church,  or  the  man- 
agement of  some  of  the  colleges.  Baxter 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  129 

was  too  discerning  to  be  caught  in  this  trap; 
for  such  it  seems  to  have  been.  Lauderdale 
no  sooner  went  to  Scotland,  than  he  became 
one  of  the  greatest  persecutors  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  Baxter,  in  declining  the 
proposals  of  Lauderdale,  wrote  him  a  letter, 
which,  as  it  is  characteristic  of  the  man,  will 
be  here  inserted. 

My  Lord, 

"  Being  deeply  sensible  of  your  Lordship's 
favours,  I  humbly  return  to  you  my  hearty 
thanks;  but  the  following  considerations  for- 
bid me  to  entertain  any  hopes  of  such  a  re- 
moval. 

"The  experience  of  my  great  weakness 
and  decay  of  strength,  and  particularly  of 
this  last  winter's  pain,  and  how  much  worse 
I  am  in  winter  than  in  summer,  fully  per- 
suade me,  that  I  should  live  a  little  while  in 
Scotland,  and  that  in  a  disabled  and  useless 
condition;  rather  keeping  my  bed  than  the 
pulpit. 

"  I  am  engaged  in  writing  a  book,  which 
if  I  could  hope  to  live  to  finish,  is  almost  all 
the  service  I  expect  to  do  God  and  his  church 
in  the  world — a  Latin  '  Methodus  Theolo- 


130 


LIFE  OF  THE 


giae.'  Indeed,  T  can  scarcely  hope  to  live 
so  long,  as  it  requires  yet  nearly  a  year's 
labour.  Now  if  I  should  spend  that  half 
year  or  year,  which  should  finish  this  work, 
in  travel,  and  then  leave  it  undone,  it  would 
disappoint  me  of  the  ends  of  my  life.  I  live 
only  for  work,  and  therefore  should  remove 
only  for  work,  and  not  for  wealth  and  hon- 
ours, if  ever  I  remove. 

"  If  I  were  there,  all  I  could  hope  for 
would  be,  the  liberty  to  preach  the  gospel  of 
salvation,  and  especially  in  some  university, 
among  young  scholars.  But  I  hear  that  you 
have  enough  already  for  this  work,  who  can 
probably  do  it  better  than  I  can. 

"  I  have  a  family,  and  in  it  a  mother-in- 
law,  of  eighty  years  of  age,  of  honourable 
extract  and  great  worth,  whom  I  must  not 
neglect,  and  who  cannot  travel.  To  such  an 
one  as  I,  it  is  so  great  a  business  to  remove 
a  family,  with  all  our  goods  and  books  so 
far,  that  it  deterreth  me  from  thinking  of  it; 
especially  having  paid  so  dear  for  removals 
these  eight  years  past,  as  I  have  done;  and 
being  but  yesterday  settled  in  a  house,  which 
I  have  newly  taken,  and  that  with  great 
trouble  and  loss  of  time.    And  if  I  should 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  131 


find  Scotland  disagree  with  me,  which  I  fully 
conclude  it  would,  I  must  remove  all  back 
again. 

"  I  am  weary  of  the  noise  of  contentious 
revilers,  and  have  oft  had  thoughts  to  go  into 
a  foreign  land,  if  I  could  find  where  I  might 
have  healthful  air  and  quietness,  but  to  live 
and  die  in  peace.  When  I  sit  in  a  corner 
and  meddle  with  nobody,  and  hope  the  world 
will  forget  that  I  am  alive,  court,  city  and 
country  are  still  filled  with  clamours  against 
me.  When  a  preacher  wants  preferment, 
his  way  is  to  preach,  or  write  a  book  against 
the  non-conformists,  and  me  by  name;  so 
that  the  menstrua  of  the  press,  and  the  pul- 
pits of  some,  are  bloody  invectives  against 
myself,  as  if  my  peace  were  inconsistent  with 
the  kingdom's  happiness.  Never  did  my 
eyes  read  such  impudent  untruths,  in  matters 
of  fact,  as  such  writings  contain.  They  cry 
out  for  answers,  and  reasons  of  my  non-con- 
formity, while  they  know  the  law  forbiddeth 
me  to  answer  them  unlicensed.  I  expect  not 
that  any  favour  or  justice  of  my  superiors 
should  cure  this;  but  if  I  might  be  heard 
speak  before  I  be  judged  by  them,  I  would 
request  that  I  might  be  allowed  to  live  quiet- 


132 


LIFE  OF  THE 


ly,  to  follow  my  private  studies,  and  might 
once  again  have  the  use  of  my  books,  which 
I  have  not  seen  these  ten  years.  I  pay  for 
a  room  for  their  standing  at  Kidderminster, 
where  they  are  eaten  by  worms  and  rats; 
having  no  security  for  my  quiet  abode,  to 
send  for  them.  I  would  also  ask  that  I  might 
have  the  Hberty  every  beggar  hath,  to  travel 
from  town  to  town.  I  mean  but  to  London, 
to  oversee  the  press,  when  any  thing  of  mine 
is  licensed  for  it.  If  I  be  sent  to  Newgate 
for  preaching  Christ's  gospel,  (for  I  dare  not 
sacrilegiously  renounce  my  calling,  to  which 
I  am  consecrated  per  sacrament um  ordinis,) 
I  would  request  the  favour  of  a  better  prison, 
where  I  may  but  walk  and  write.  These  I 
should  take  as  very  great  favouue,  and  ac- 
knowledge your  lordship  my  benefactor,  if 
you  procure  them. 

"  I  think  I  broke  no  law  in  any  of  the 
preachings  of  which  I  am  accused.  I  most 
confidently  think  that  no  law  imposeth  on 
me  the  Oxford  oath,  any  more  than  on  any 
conformable  minister;  and  I  am  past  doubt- 
ing that  the  present  mittimus  for  my  impri- 
sonment, is  quite  without  law.  But  if  the 
justices  think  otherwise,  now,  or  at  any  time, 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  133 

I  know  no  remedy.  I  have  a  license  to 
preach  pubUcly  in  London  diocese,  under 
the  archbishop's  own  hand  and  seal,  which 
is  yet  valid  for  occasional  sermons,  though 
not  for  lectures  or  cures;  but  I  dare  not  use 
it,  because  it  is  in  the  bishop's  power  to  recall 
it.  Would  but  the  bishop,  who,  one  would 
think,  would  not  be  against  the  preaching  of 
the  gospel,  not  recall  my  license,  I  could 
preach  occasional  sermons,  which  would 
absolve  my  conscience  of  all  obligation  to 
private  preaching;  for  it  is  not  maintenance 
that  I  expect.  I  never  received  a  farthing 
for  my  preaching,  to  my  knowledge,  since 
May  1st,  1662.  I  thank  God  that  I  have 
food  and  raiment,  without  being  chargeable 
to  any  man,  which  is  all  that  I  desire,  had 
I  but  leave  to  preach  for  nothing;  and  that 
only  when  there  is  a  notorious  necessity," 
&c. 

This  touching  letter  was  followed  by  an- 
other to  the  same  nobleman,  on  the  divided 
state  of  the  country;  and  proposes  that  mo- 
derate divines  should  meet  and  debate  mat- 
ters, in  order  to  some  plan  of  concord.  It  is 
wonderful,  that  after  all  his  experience,  he 


134 


LIFE  OF  THE 


should  have  placed  any  confidence  in  such  a 
measure. 

In  the  year  1671,  died  his  very  particular 
friend,  Serjeant  Fountain,  who  gave  Baxter 
£10  every  year,  from  the  time  of  his  being 
silenced  until  his  death.  "  He  was  a  man," 
says  Baxter,  "  of  quick  understanding,  and 
upright  and  impartial  in  his  life;  of  serious 
fervency  towards  God,  and  open  zealous 
owning  of  true  piety  and  hoUness." 

The  only  respite  which  the  non-conform- 
ist ministers  received,  was  from  the  king's 
connivance;  not  enforcing  the  severe  laws 
against  them. 

By  the  shutting  up  of  the  King's  Exche- 
quer this  year,  Baxter  lost  £1000  which  he 
had  deposited  there ;  for  though  it  was  only 
intended  to  keep  it  closed  for  one  year,  it 
does  not  appear  that  he  ever  recovered  the 
money. 

In  1672,  the  king  published  a  "Declara- 
tion," dispensing  with  the  penal  laws  against 
non  conformists.     This  document  declares, 

that  the  king,  in  virtue  of  his  supreme 
power  in  matters  ecclesiastical,  suspends  all 
penal  laws  thereabout,  and  that  he  will  grant 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  135 


a  convenient  number  of  public  meeting-places 
to  men  of  all  sorts  that  conform  not,  provided 
the  persons  are  approved  by  him,  and  do  not 
preach  seditiously,  nor  against  the  Church  of 
England."  The  evident  design  was  not  to 
secure  liberty  to  the  non-conformists,  but  to 
the  Roman  Catholics;  consequently, the  Lon- 
don ministers  were  not  harmonious  in  their 
sentiments  of  the  use  which  should  be  made 
of  this  just,  but  illegal  privilege.  They  were 
all  glad,  however,  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
opportunity  of  promoting  the  interests  of  true 
religion.  And  it  is  probable,  that  had  it  not 
been  for  the  favour  entertained  towards  the 
Romanists  by  the  king  and  his  family,  and 
some  of  his  court,  the  non-conformisis  would 
have  been  entirely  crushed.  Providence  has, 
on  many  occasions,  favoured  the  Dissenters, 
by  means  of  the  struggles  of  party,  until  now 
their  body  has  arrived  at  such  a  measure  of 
strength,  as,  under  God,  constitutes  its  best 
security. 

In  October  of  this  year,  Baxter  fell  into  a 
'  dangerous  fit  of  sickness,  from  which  how- 
ever, God,  in  his  wonted  mercy,  recovered 
him.    Having  received  a  license  by  means 
of  Sir  Thomas  Player,  chamberlain  of  Lon- 


136 


LIFE  OF  THE 


don,  he  preached  his  first  sermon,  in  a  tole- 
rated place,  on  the  19th  of  November. 

Some  merchants  now  set  up  a  lecture  at 
Pinners'  Hall  in  London,  to  be  supplied  by- 
six  ministers,  allowing  them  twenty  shillings 
a  piece  for  each  sermon ;  of  these  they  chose 
him  to  be  one.  But  after  preaching  four  ser- 
mons, he  found  much  complaint  made,  by 
the  Independents,  as  though  he  had  preached 
against  them,  every  time  he  spoke  of  the  sin 
of  making  division,  or  unnecessary  separa- 
tion. He  was  also  charged  with  preaching 
up  Arminianism,  and  free  will,  and  man's 
power. 

In  January  1673  he  set  up  a  lecture,  at 
Mr.  Turner's  church  in  New  Street,  near 
Fetter  Lane,  which  was  attended  with  en- 
couraging evidences  of  God's  special  bless- 
ing; but  for  these  labours  he  never  took  a 
penny  from  any  one. 

The  Parliament  met  on  the  20th  of  Febru- 
ary, and  voted  the  king's  "  Declaration"  to 
be  illegal.  The  king  promised,  that  it  should 
not  be  drawn  into  a  precedent:  and  there 
was  some  talk  of  a  law  for  the  relief  of  the 
non-conformists,  but  nothing  was  done ;  and 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


137 


all  the  old  laws  remained  in  full  force,  al- 
though they  were  not  rigorously  executed. 

Baxter  now  took  a  house  in  Bloomsbury, 
in  London,  where  he  removed  with  his  fa- 
mily after  Easter;  having  previously  spent 
three  quiet  years  at  Totteridge. 

The  Parhament  now  grew  into  great  jea- 
lousy of  the  prevalence  of  popery.  As  the 
Duke  of  York  was  the  commander  of  the 
army,  fears  began  to  be  entertained,  that  the 
Papists  were  designing  to  establish  them- 
selves, by  force.  A  law  was  therefore  en- 
acted, that  no  person  should  hold  any  office 
of  trust,  who  did  not  take  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance and  supremacy,  and  receive  the  sacra- 
ment according  to  the  order  of  the  Church  of 
England.  This  was  the  origin  of  the  cele- 
brated Test  Act,  concerning  which  so  much 
has  been  said  and  written;  and  which  now 
only  forms  a  part  of  the  history  of  religious 
tyranny,  in  the  years  that  are  past.  The  Dis- 
senters with  more  conscience  than  wisdom, 
at  first  acquiesced  in  this  measure,  although 
afterwards  they  struggled  hard  to  throw  off 
the  yoke;  but  did  not  succeed  until  within  a 
few  years,  when  it  was  repealed.  It  was  in 
all  respects  an  iniquitous  law,  because  a  so- 
12 


138 


LIFE  OF  THE 


lemn  religious  ordinance  was  prostituted  to 
state  policy;  and  men  of  infidel  sentiments 
and  profane  lives,  were  brought  to  bow  at 
the  altar,  for  the  sake  of  office.  And  although 
it  was  designed  to  be  a  bulwark  against  the 
Papists,  it  was  doubtless  as  acceptable  to  a 
majority  in  both  houses,  because  it  kept  out 
the  Dissenters. 

In  1674  the  health  of  Baxter  was  much 
impaired,  but  he  still  continued  his  labours 
in  London,  with  hopeful  success.  Satan  how- 
ever contrived  new  hinderances,  and  raised 
fresh  persecutions  against  this  destroyer  of 
his  kingdom.  He  was  arrested  and  brought 
before  Sir  William  Pulteney,  but  this  worthy 
magistrate  found  the  warrant  illegal,  and  thus 
the  malignant  informer  was  defeated.  This 
seizure  was  under  the  Conventicle  Act. 

New  schemes  of  comprehension  and  peace 
were  every  year  talked  of.  At  length,  a  con- 
ference was  proposed  by  some  of  the  leading 
bishops,  Stillingfleet,  Tillotson,  Morley,  and 
Ward;  which  like  all  the  former  attempts 
at  reconciliation,  proved  abortive.  Indeed, 
the  two  last  mentioned  bishops  had  no  real 
desire  for  any  such  thing,  as  appeared  by  the 
course  afterwards  pursued.    Under  their  in- 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  139 


fluence  he  was  again  prosecuted  before  Sir 
Thomas  Davis,  where  the  accusation  against 
him  was  preaching  in  an  unconsecrated  place, 
not  using  the  common  pra^^-er,  &c.  Though 
at  first  permission  to  speak  was  denied  him 
yet  at  length  liberty  was  given,  when  he  so 
confounded  the  informers,  and  perplexed  the 
alderman,  that  the  latter  suspended  the  order 
which  he  had  just  made,  to  distrain  upon  his 
goods.  But  he  afterwards  executed  this  or- 
der, and  warrants  were  sent  to  distrain,  upon 
two  judgments,  for  preaching  in  New  street. 

The  room  in  which  he  preached  had  once 
sunk,  when  pressed  by  the  audience  which 
crowded  it,  and  more  recently  the  whole 
building  had  fallen  in  ruins  over  the  heads 
of  the  people.  Many  henceforward  would 
not  come  to  this  place ;  Baxter,  therefore, 
encouraged  by  his  friends,  set  about  building 
a  house  of  worship  in  Oxenden  street.  By 
the  zeal  and  influence  of  his  wife  another 
place  of  meeting  was  prepared  for  Mr.  Read 
in  Bloomsbury,  in  which  Baxter  engaged  to 
help  him  occasionally. 

But  it  was  his  lot  to  be  followed  by  per- 
secutors. As  warrants  were  out  to  distrain 
upon  his  property  for  preaching,  he  first  kept 


14U 


LIFE  OF  THE 


his  door  shut  for  a  while,  and  then  resolved 
to  sell  off  his  books  and  his  goods.  The 
first  time  he  preached  in  the  meeting-house 
which  he  had  prepared,  was  the  occasion  of 
a  plot  to  send  him  for  six  months  to  prison 
on  account  of  the  Oxford  oath.  But  by  a 
turn  of  providence  their  design  was  frus- 
trated. 

At  this  time  Baxter  was  troubled  with  an 
extraordinary  complication  of  diseases,  of 
which  in  his  life  he  gives  a  minute  and  rather 
disgusting  detail. 

Being  driven  from  home,  he  availed  him- 
self of  his  old  license  to  preach  in  various 
parishes;  and  multitudes  attended,  who  were 
not  accustomed  to  go  to  the  house  of  God.  In 
some  places  where  scarcely  a  hundred  had 
been  wont  to  come,  his  audience  consisted  of 
two  or  three  thousands.  One  of  the  places 
where  he  preached  was  Rickmers worth, 
abounding  with  Quakers,  because  William 
Penn,  their  leader  had  his  residence  here. 
Baxter  felt  anxious  that  the  people  should 
have  an  opportunity  of  hearing  what  could 
be  said  for  their  recovery.  William  Penn  was 
not  backward  to  give  him  the  opportunity 
which  he  desired:  upon  which  he  continued 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  141 


speaking  to  two  rooms  full  of  people,  from 
ten  o'clock  till  five,  fasting.  One  lord,  two 
knights,  and  four  ministers  of  the  established 
church  were  present. 

His  friends  at  home  had  got  one  Mr.  Sed- 
don  to  preach  the  second  sermon  in  his  new 
chapel.  He  was  a  non-conformist  of  Derby- 
shire, and  was  fully  warned  of  the  danger 
which  threatened  him.  While  he  was  preach- 
ing, three  justices  waited,  expecting  to  see 
Baxter,  and  the  artless  man  had  every  op- 
portunity of  escaping,  but  when  he  came  to 
the  justices,  and  some  one  told  them,  that  he 
was  the  preacher,  they  put  his  name  in  the 
warrant,  and  sent  him  to  prison,  where  he 
remained  three  months.  His  persecutors 
were  the  more  exasperated  because  he  had 
escaped  the  snare  laid  for  him;  and  they 
waited  for  an  opportunity  to  seize  him. 
Several  of  the  justices  however  died;  and 
about  the  same  time  he  lost  his  most  excel- 
lent friend.  Judge  Hale,  to  whom  he  had 
often  been  indebted;  and  of  whose  death  he 
speaks  in  a  most  affecting  manner. 

From  1671  to  1675  he  wrote  and  publish- 
ed a  number  of  books.  Among  these  was, 
"  The  Christian  Directory"  on  which  he  had 


142 


LIFE  OF  THE 


been  employed  for  some  years.  In  this  time 
also,  he  published  his  "  Poor  Man's  Family 
Book;"  "The  Divine  Appointment  of  the 
Lord's  Day;"  and  the  "Catholic Theology;" 
besides  a  number  of  other  treatises.  This, 
therefore,  seems  to  have  been  one  of  the 
busiest  periods  of  his  life,  as  a  writer. 
Though  he  preached  less,  and  was  much 
affected  in  body;  yet  he  laboured  incessant- 
ly with  his  pen.  The  mere  supervision  of 
the  press  for  the  printing  so  many  volumes 
would  have  been  occupation  enough  for  a 
common  man. 

When  he  had  been  kept  a  whole  year  out 
of  the  chapel  which  he  had  built,  he  resolved 
to  erect  another  in  the  parish  of  St.  Martin, 
where  there  were  sixty  thousand  who  had 
nx)  church  to  which  they  could  go.  But  in 
1676,  strict  orders  were  given  by  the  king  to 
enforce  the  laws  against  non-conformists. 
The  people,  however,  were  reluctant  to  see 
them  executed.  Mr.  Joseph  Read  was  the 
first  now  committed  to  prison;  but  he  had 
been  such  a  friend  to  the  poor,  that  they 
crowded  round  him,  when  called  before  the 
justice,  and  strongly  manifested  their  affec- 
tion.   About  this  time  several  of  the  high 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  143 


church  clergy  spoke  against  Baxter  in  their 
sermons,  as  Mr.  Jane,  and  Dr.  Mason,  the 
latter  of  whom  charged  him  with  equivoca- 
tion; a  thing  of  which  he  was  utterly  inca- 
pable. The  whole  ground  of  the  attack  was 
the  misapprehension  of  one  Ross,  who  en- 
deavoured to  extort  from  him  a  promise  that 
he  would  not  preach  again.  Mason  died 
soon  after  his  public  attack  on  this  venerable 
man. 

Being  hindered  from  preaching  in  his  own 
chapel,  he  was  obliged  to  let  it  lie  idle,  and 
had  to  pay  yearly  £30,  ground-rent;  and 
was  glad  to  preach  for  nothing  near  it  in  a 
chapel  built  by  another  for  gain.  But  he 
had  not  preached  here  long  before  a  warrant 
was  issued  to  apprehend  him.  He  asked 
the  Earl  of  Lauderdale,  what  occasioned  this 
work  against  him.  He  was  advised  to  call 
on  the  Bishop  of  London,  which  he  did,  and 
was  courteously  treated,  but  the  warrant 
was  not  withdrawn;  and  for  more  than  four 
and  twenty  days,  his  door  was  watched  by 
the  constables;  so  he  went  no  more  to  the 
bishops. 

In  1677,  upon  the  death  of  Thomas  Wads- 
worth,  of  Southwark,  Baxter  was  invited  to 


144 


LIFE  OF  THE 


take  his  place,  where,  though  he  refused  to 
become  the  pastor,  he  preached  for  several 
months  in  peace,  when  Dr.  Lloyd  became 
the  pastor  of  St.  Martin's  in  the  Fields.  Bax- 
ter was  encouraged  by  Dr.  Tillotson  to  offer 
him  his  chapel  in  Oxenden  street,  which  to 
his  great  satisfaction  he  accepted  ;  but  even 
this  simple  and  public  transaction  was  shame- 
fully misrepresented  to  his  discredit.  Dr. 
Lloyd,  however,  when  applied  to,  confirmed 
the  statement  which  Baxter  gave  of  the  mat- 
ter. Of  several  years  towards  the  close  of 
Baxter's  Ufe  we  have  few  particulars.  He 
needed  rest.  His  constitution  was  complete- 
ly broken,  but  his  courage  and  the  ardour  of 
his  mind  were  invincible ;  and  as  long  as  he 
could  move  his  hand,  he  persisted  in  writing. 

In  1676,  he  brought  out,  "The  Judgment 
of  the  Non-conformists "  The  Non-con- 
formist's Plea  for  Peace,"  in  three  parts,  with 
a  "Defence,"  the  "True  and  only  Way  of 
Concord;"  "Church  History  of  Bishops;" 
"Answer  to  Dr.  Stillingfleet ;"  "Treatise  of 
Episcopacy ;"  "  Apology  for  the  Non-con- 
formist's Ministry ;"  "Dissent  from  Dr.  Sher- 
lack ;"  and  the  "Search  for  the  English  Schis- 
matic."   All  these,  besides  his  "Methodus 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  145 


Theologiae,"  were  the  production  of  five 
years.  His  most  valued  friends  began  now 
to  drop  off:  Judge  Hale,  and  Dr.  Manton  he 
missed  exceedingly,  and  lamented  much. 
He  also  mentions  the  Rev.  Henry  Stubbs, 
whose  custom  was  to  preach  every  day,, 
and  often  twice  in  the  day.  Frequently  he 
fell  down  in  the  pulpit  in  a  fit,  and  would 
get  up  and  go  on  again.  He  alleged  that  he 
had  often  gone  ill  into  the  pulpit,  and  come 
out  better.  When  he  died,  he  left  ^6200  to 
Bristol,  and  a  like  sum  to  London,  to  buy 
Bibles  for  the  poor,  also  a  fund  to  educate 
poor  children,  and  to  assist  poor  ministers' 
widows  in  their  necessities.  Another  of  his 
dear  friends,  now  taken  away  from  him,  was 
the  Rev.  John  Corbet,  born  and  brought  up 
in  the  city  of  Gloucester,  and  a  student  of 
Magdalen-Hall,  Oxford;  a  man  of  singular 
excellence.  He  also  gives  the  character  of 
Rev.  Thomas  Gouge  and  Henry  Ashurst. 

But  the  greatest  loss  which  Baxter  sus- 
tained in  his  old  age,  was  that  of  his  wife, 
which  took  place  after  a  short  and  painful 
illness,  June  14th,  1681.  Considering  the 
constitutional  temperament  of  Baxter,  and 
his  advanced  age,  when  this  union  was  form- 
13 


146 


LIFE  OF  THE 


ed,  it  cannot  but  be  considered  very  remark- 
able, that  the  mutual  attachment  between 
-them  was  so  ardent  and  uninterrupted.  Her 
funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  John  Howe, 
and  though  he  dwells  little  on  her  character, 
we  can  learn  from  his  discourse  that  he  con- 
sidered her  an  extraordinary  woman.  Bax- 
ter wrote  a  memoir,  which  he  called,  "A 
•Breviate"  of  her  life,  in  which  he  says,  "As 
to  religion  we  were  so  perfectly  of  one  mind, 
that  I  know  not  that  she  differed  from  me  in 
any  one  point,  or  circumstance,  except  in  the 
prudential  management  of  what  we  were 
agreed  in.  She  was  for  universal  love  of  all 
true  Christians,  and  not  appropriating  the 
Church  to  a  party;  and  was  against  all  cen- 
soriousness  and  partiality  in  religion.  She 
was  for  acknowledging  all  that  was  of  God 
in  conformists  and  non  conformists;  but  she 
had  much  more  reverence  for  the  elder  con- 
formists, than  for  the  younger  ones;  who 
ventured  upon  things  merely  for  worldly 
ends,  without  a  tender  fear  of  sinning.  If 
any  young  men  of  her  own  friends  were  in- 
clined merely  to  swim  with  the  stream,  with- 
out due  trial  of  the  case,  it  greatly  displeased 
her,  and  she  thought  hardly  of  them. 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  147 


"  The  nature  of  true  religion,  holiness,  obe- 
dience, and  all  duty  to  God  and  man,  was 
printed  in  her  conceptions,  in  so  distinct  and 
clear  a  manner,  as  made  her  endeavours  and 
expectations,  still  look  at  greater  exactness 
than  I  and  such  as  I  could  reach.  She  was 
very  desirous  that  we  should  all  have  lived 
in  a  constancy  of  devotion  and  a  blameless  in- 
nocency ;  and  in  this  respect,  she  was  the 
nieetest  helper  I  could  have  had  in  this  world, 
that  ever  I  was  acquainted  with.  For  I  was 
apt  to  be  over  careless  in  my  speech,  and  too 
backward  to  my  duty,  and  she  was  still  en- 
deavouring to  bring  me  to  greater  readiness 
and  strictness  in  both.  If  I  spake  rashly,  or 
sharply,  it  offended  her.  If  I  carried  it  (as  I 
was  apt)  with  too  much  neglect  of  ceremony 
or  humble  compliment  to  any,  she  would 
modestly  tell  me  of  it.  If  my  very  looks 
seemed  not  pleasant,  she  would  have  me 
amend  them.  If  I  forgot  any  week  to  cate- 
chise my  servants  and  familiarly  instruct 
them  personally,  beside  my  ordinary  family 
duties,  she  was  troubled  at  my  remissness. 
And  whereas,  of  late  years,  my  decay  of 
spirits,  and  diseased  heaviness  and  pain, 
niade  me  much  more  seldom  and  cold  in 


148 


LIFE  OF  THE 


profitable  discourse  and  conference  in  my 
house,  than  I  had  been  when  I  was  younger, 
and  had  more  ease  and  spirits  and  natural 
vigour,  she  much  blamed  me,  and  was  trou- 
bled at  it,  as  a  wrong  to  herself  and  others. 
Yet  her  judgment  agreed  with  mine,  that  too 
much  table  talk  and  too  often,  of  the  best 
things,  doth  but  tend  to  dull  the  common 
hearers,  and  harden  them  under  it,  as  a  cus- 
tomary thing:  and  that  too  much  good  talk 
may  bring  it  into  contempt  or  make  it  inef- 
fectual." 

The  death  of  such  a  woman  in  the  very 
prime  of  life,  (for  she  was  little  more  than 
forty  when  she  died)  was  an  irreparable  loss 
to  Baxter.  She  had  tenderly  nursed  him  for 
many  years,  and  now,  with  increased  age 
and  infirmity,  he  was  left  to  sorrow  over  her 
tomb,  though  not  without  hope.  The  deci- 
sion of  her  character,  the  fervency  of  her 
piety,  the  activity  and  disinterestedness  of 
her  Christian  benevolence,  left  no  doubt' 
remaining,  that  her  spirit  rested  with  God, 
where  it  has  long  since  been  joined  by  that 
of  her  much  loved  husband  and  companion. 

Baxter's  suff'erings  seemed  to  increase 
with  his  years.    Old  and  almost  bereft  of 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  149 

friends,  he  was  moreover  exceedingly  dis- 
eased in  body;  so  that  the  wonder  is  how 
his  life  was  protracted  so  long.  His  ene- 
mies and  persecutors  likewise  seem  to  have 
increased  in  number  and  virulence. 

In  July,  1682,  he  retired  a  while  into  the 
country,  and  returned  in  August  in  great 
weakness.  He  met  his  congregation,  how- 
ever, in  New-street,  and  preached  to  them 
in  such  debility  that  he  fully  expected  it 
would  be  his  last  sermon  there.  He  had  no 
sooner  finished  preaching,  than  he  was  ar- 
rested by  many  constables  and  other  officers, 
led  by  a  violent  and  greedy  informer.  By 
one  warrant  his  person  was  seized  for  com- 
ing within  five  miles  of  a  corporate  town; 
and  five  other  warrants,  to  distrain  for  one 
hundred  and  ninety  pounds,  for  preaching 
five  sermons.  He  gave  himself  up,  and  they 
began  to  seize  his  books,  and  household 
goods,  even  to  the  very  bed  from  which  he 
had  lately  risen.  While  they  were  hurrying 
him  to  the  magistrate,  to  be  sent  to  jail,  he 
was  met  by  Dr.  Thomas  Cox,  who  forced 
him  back  to  his  couch  and  bed,  and  went 
and  took  his  oath  before  five  justices,  that 
Mr.  Baxter  could  not  go  to  prison  without 


150 


LIFE  OF  THE 


danger  of  death.  The  justices,  after  consult- 
ing with  the  king,  consented  that  for  the  pre- 
sent imprisonment  should  be  forborne,  that 
he  miglit  die  at  home.  But  they  executed 
all  their  warrants  on  his  books  and  goods. 
Some  friends  paid  them  as  much  money  as 
they  were  appraised  at.  Although  he  sent 
two  witnesses  to  prove  that  the  goods  were 
not  his  own,  they  proceeded  to  sell  every 
thing.  And  when  afterwards,  he  borrowed 
a  bed  and  some  necessaries,  they  threatened 
to  come  upon  him  again,  and  take  these  arti- 
cles as  his;  so  that  he  had  no  remedy  but  to 
forsake  his  house  and  goods,  and  take  secret 
lodgings  at  a  distance,  in  a  stranger's  house. 
Of  this  house,  which  he  was  obliged  thus  to 
forsake,  he  had  taken  a  long  lease,  and  was 
obliged  to  pay  the  rent,  while  it  remained 
unoccupied.  His  old  friends,  however,  were 
so  liberal,  that  he  was  obliged  to  restrain 
their  bounty.  His  greatest  suffering  how- 
ever, was  from  disease,  which  now  seized 
upon  him  with  terrible  violence.  He  endur- 
ed all  these  extreme  sufferings  with  Christian 
fortitude  and  patience;  for  his  trust  was  firm- 
ly fixed  in  God. 

The  injustice  with  which  the  Dissenters 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  151 


were  now  treated  may  be  learnt  from  a  sin- 
gle fact.  A  Mr.  Robert  Mayot,  a  godly 
man,  and  a  conformist,  in  his  last  wiil  left 
six  hundred  pounds  to  Mr.  Baxter,  to  be 
distributed  to  sixty  poor  ejected  ministers, 
adding,  ^-that  he  did  it,  not  because  they 
were  non-conformists,  but  because  they  were 
poor  and  pious.  But  the  king's  attorney 
sued  for  it  in  chancery,  and  the  Lord  Keeper 
North,  gave  it  all  to  the  king.  But  Provi- 
dence defeated  this  unrighteous  sentence;  for 
the  money  was  directed  to  be  applied  to  the 
maintenance  of  a  chaplain  at  Chelsea  Col- 
lege: it  was  kept  till  after  the  revolution; 
when  the  Commissioner  of  the  Great  Seal 
restored  it  to  Baxter,  to  be  applied  accord- 
ing to  the  will  of  the  testator;  which  was 
done  accordingly. 

Again,  in  16S4,  while  he  lay  languishing 
in  pain,  the  justices  of  the  sessions  sent  war- 
rants to  apprehend  him.  He  refused  to  open 
his  chamber;  and  not  having  authority  to 
break  it  open  they  set  six  officers  at  his  study 
door,  who  watched  all  night,  and  kept  him 
from  his  bed  and  food;  so  that,  the  next  day, 
he  was  obliged  to  give  himself  up  to  them; 
when  they  carried  him  before  the  sessions, 


152 


LIFE  OF  THE 


though  he  was  scarcely  able  to  stand.  They 
then  bound  hhn  over  to  his  good  behaviour 
in  a  bond  of  four  hundred  pounds.  Upon 
demanding  to  know  of  what  crime  he  was 
accused,  it  was  answered,  None;  that  this 
was  merely  a  measure  of  precaution.  He 
inquired,  why  he  was  suspected,  and  by 
whose  information;  but  he  received  no  satis- 
factory answer.  He  was  continued  under 
this  bond,  and  on  the  11th  of  December, 
16S4,  was  forced  to  be  carried  to  the  sessions- 
house,  in  all  his  weakness  and  pain,  or  else 
iiis  bond  would  have  been  forfeited.  The 
justices  informed  him  that  he  must  continue 
bound,  lest  others  should  expect  to  be  dis- 
charged. On  another  occasion  he  was  forced 
in  the  same  manner  to  the  sessions-house, 
and  obliged  again  to  enter  into  a  bond  for 
his  good  behaviour,  with  a  penalty  of  four 
hundred  pounds,  as  before. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  1685,  God  was 
pleased  to  call  out  of  the  world  Charles  II. 
His  character  is  too  well  known  to  every  read- 
er, to  be  required  to  be  given  here.  Most 
will  agree,  that  he  was  one  of  the  greatest 
curses  with  which  the  English  nation  was 
ever  visited.    His  father  and  brother  had 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  153 

some  redeeming  qualities  in  their  character; 
but  he  had  neither  the  personal  virtues  of  the 
one,  nor  the  conscientious  regard  to  religion 
of  the  other. 

The  most  extraordinary  circumstance,  in 
the  eventful  life  of  Baxter,  was  his  trial  be- 
fore Judge  Jefferies,  for  something  published 
in  his  "  Paraphrase  of  the  New  Testament," 
which  had  been  printed  a  little  before.  In 
May  he  appeared,  in  obedience  to  a  sum- 
mons, in  Westminster  Hall,  where  an  in- 
formation was  ordered  to  be  entered  against 
him.  He  moved  for  longer  time,  to  prepare 
himself  for  his  trial;  but  this  was  refused. 
Jefferies  said,  "  I  will  not  give  him  a  minute's 
time  to  save  his  life."  The  trial  took  place 
in  Guildhall,  on  the  30th  of  May.  Sir  Henry 
Ashurst  stood  by  him  during  the  whole  time. 
Baxter  appeared  to  be  humbly  composed 
when  he  came  into  court,  and  while  he  wait- 
ed for  the  judge.  When  the  jury  was  sworn, 
Baxter  objected  to  them  as  being  incompe- 
tent to  try  such  a  cause;  as  they  were  trades- 
men and  not  scholars,  he  alleged  that  they 
were  incapable  of  pronouncing  whether  his 
"  Paraphrase"  was  or  was  not  according  to 
the  original  text.    He  therefore  prayed  that 


154 


LIFE  OP  THE 


he  might  have  a  jury  of  learned  men:  even 
thoiigli  the  one  half  of  them  should  be  Pa- 
pists. This  objection,  as  might  have  been 
expected,  was  overruled  by  the  court.  The 
words  picked  out  as  the  ground  of  accusa- 
tion, and,  as  is  supposed  by  Dr.  Sherlock, 
were  construed  as  reflecting  on  the  prelates 
of  the  Church  of  England;  and  therefore  as 
seditious.  The  passages  may  be  seen  in 
Orme's  Life  of  Baxter.  After  the  king's 
counsel  had  opened  the  cause,  and  brought 
forward  the  charges  with  their  aggravations, 
the  counsel  for  Baxter,  employed  by  Sir 
Henry  Ashurst,  defended  him  with  ability; 
but  were  in  the  most  uncourteous  manner 
interrupted  or  set  down  by  the  judge. 

Baxter  attempted  to  say  something  for 
himself,  when  the  judge  became  outrageous, 
and  reviled  hiai  in  the  most  opprobrious 
terms. 

"  Richard,  Richard,"  said  he,  "  dost  thou 
think  we'll  hear  thee  poison  the  court? 
Richard,  thou  art  an  old  fellow,  an  old 
knave.  Thou  hast  written  books  enough  to 
load  a  cart,  every  one  as  full  of  sedition,  I 
might  say  treason,  as  an  egg  is  full  of  meat. 
Hadst  thou  been  whipped  out  of  thy  writing 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  155 


trade  forty  years  ago,  it  had  been  happy. 
Thou  pretendest  to  be  a  preacher  of  the  gos- 
pel of  peace,  and  ihou  hast  one  foot  in  the 
grave;  it  is  time  for  thee  to  think  what  ac- 
count thou  intendest  to  give.  But  leave  tliee 
to  thyself,  and  I  see  thou'lt  go  on  as  ll^ou  hast 
begun;  but,  by  the  grace  of  God,  I'll  look 
after  thee.  I  know  thou  hast  a  mighty  part}'-, 
and  I  see  a  great  many  of  the  brotherhood 
in  corners,  waiting  to  see  what  will  become 
of  their  mighty  don,  and  a  doctor  of  the  party 
(looking  towards  Dr.  Bates)  at  your  elbow; 
but,  by  the  grace  of  Almighty  God,  I'll  crush 
you  all.  Come,  what  do  you  say  for  yourself, 
you  old  knave;  come,  speak  up.  What  doth 
he  say?  I  am  not  afraid  of  you,  for  all  the 
snivelling  calves  you  have  about  you" — 
alluding  to  some  persons  who  were  in  tears, 
about  Baxter. 

"  Your  lordship  need  not,"  replied  Baxter, 
"  for  I'll  not  hurt  you.  But  these  things  will 
surely  be  understood  one  day;  what  fools 
one  set  of  Protestants  are  to  persecute  the 
other."  And  lifting  up  his  eyes  to  heaven, 
he  said, "  I  am  not  concerned  to  answer  such 
stuff,  but  am  ready  to  produce  my  writings 
for  the  confutation  of  all  this;  and  my  life 


156 


LIFE  OF  THE 


and  conversation  are  known  to  many  in  this 
nation." 

The  attorneys,  counsel  for  Baxter,  were 
now  prevented  from  saying  any  thing  fur- 
ther; and  when  he  himself  would  have  spo- 
ken, he  was  prevented,  and  the  unjust  judge 
addressed  the  jury  in  a  long  and  fulsome 
charge.  When  he  had  done,  Baxter  said, 
"  Does  your  lordship  think  that  any  jury  will 
pass  a  verdict  against  me,  on  such  a  trial  as 
this.^"  "I'll  warrant  you,  Mr.  Baxter," 
said  he;  "don't  you  trouble  yourself  about 
that."  Accordingly,  the  jury,  without  leav- 
ing the  bar,  laid  their  heads  together  and 
found  him  guilty. 

As  Baxter  left  the  court  he  said  to  the 
judge,  that  one  of  his  predecessors  in  office 
had  entertained  very  different  thoughts  of 
him  from  his  lordship.  Jefferies  answered, 
"  That  there  was  not  an  honest  man  in  Eng- 
land, but  what  took  him  for  a  great  knave." 
When  the  trial  was  over,  Sir  Henry  Ashurst, 
who  had  never  left  him,  led  him  through  the 
crowd,  and  conveyed  him  away  in  his  coach. 
Baxter  exerted  himself  to  obtain  a  more  fa- 
vourable decision  than  he  could  expect  from 
Judge  Jefferies.    He  wrote  to  a  nobleman  at 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  157 


court,  whose  name  does  not  appear,  request- 
ing him  to  use  his  influence  to  have  him 
delivered  out  of  the  hands  of  Jefl'eries;  and 
he  wrote  a  long  and  temperate  letter  to  the 
Bishop  of  London,  to  obtain  for  him  a  more 
impartial  trial.  This  letter  has  been  pre- 
served, and  is  worthy  of  a  careful  perusal. 

It  does  not  appear  that  these  applications 
were  of  any  avail  to  him;  though  it  is  possi- 
ble that  the  sentence  might  have  been  hea- 
vier, if  no  one  had  interposed  in  his  behalf. 
On  the  29th  of  June  he  had  the  judgment  of 
the  court,  which  was,  that  he  should  pay  five 
hundred  marks,  and  lie  in  jail  until  the  money 
was  paid;  and  that  he  should  be  bound  to 
his  good  behaviour  for  seven  years.  It  is 
said  that  Jefferies  proposed  that  he  should  be 
pubUcly  whipped  through  the  city;  but  his 
brethren  would  not  accede  to  it. 

The  strange,  outrageous  conduct  of  the 
Chief  Justice  of  England,  on  this  occasion, 
is  a  thing  almost  unaccountable.  If  he  had 
intended  to  render  all  judicial  proceedings 
contemptible,  he  could  not  have  taken  a 
course  more  effectual  than  the  one  pursued 
at  Baxter's  trial.  It  has  been  doubted 
whether  his  cruel  behaviour,  ought  to  be  at- 


158 


LIFE  OF  THE 


tributed  to  his  desire  to  gratify  a  royal  mas- 
ter, or  to  his  own  savage  disposition.  The 
latter  has,  however,  been  the  common  opi- 
nion. For  this  was  but  the  commencement 
of  a  series  of  atrocious  actions,  by  which  the 
disgust  and  indignation  of  all  honest  people 
was  aroused. 

There  was  never  perhaps  an  instance  of 
more  bare-faced  injustice,  than  this  condem- 
nation of  Baxter.  In  the  passages  cited  as 
the  ground  of  the  information,  there  is  not 
even  a  mention  made  of  bishops;  and  not  a 
word  respecting  the  Church  of  England,  in 
particular.  But  in  consequence  of  the  un- 
righteous verdict,  now  obtained  against  him, 
he  was  dragged  to  prison,  where  he  was 
confined  for  two  years;  and  would  have 
been  until  his  death,  unless  the  fine  had 
been  remitted. 

The  man  who  seems  to  have  been  most 
officious  in  these  persecutions,  was  L'Es- 
trange,  one  of  the  most  unprincipled,  and 
mercenary  scribblers  of  the  age;  a  man  who 
stuck  at  nothing  which  the  interests  of  arbi- 
trary power  and  high-church  politics  requir- 
ed. To  such  a  man,  Richard  Baxter's  suf- 
ferings afi'orded  a  delicious  repast.    He  had 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


159 


often  before  attacked  him  by  his  pen :  ho  had 
now  seized  a  more  formidable  and  danger- 
ous weapon.  The  conduct  of  Dr.  Sherlock 
is  more  difficult  to  be  accounted  for.  He  is 
said  to  have  suggested,  that  a  charge  of  trea- 
son might  be  founded  on  Baxter's  exposi- 
tion of  the  twelfth  chapter  of  the  Epistle  to 
the  Romans.  But  it  was  not  thought  by- 
legal  men  that  there  was  sufficient  founda- 
tion for  the  charge;  otherwise  it  would  have 
been  adopted.  Mr.  Mathew  Henry,  in  a  let- 
ter to  his  father,  dated  the  1 7th  of  November, 
1685,  has  given  us  an  affecting  picture  of 
this  suffering  saint.  "  I  went,"  says  he, 
"to  Southwark  to  Mr.  Baxter.  I  was  to 
wait  upon  him  once  before,  and  then  he  was 
busy.  I  found  him  in  pretty  comfortable 
circumstances,  though  a  prisoner  in  a  private 
house,  near  the  prison,  attended  on  by  his 
own  man  and  maid.  My  good  friend  Mr.  S. 
L.  went  with  me.  He  is  in  as  good  health 
as  we  can  expect;  and  methinks  looks  bet- 
ter, and  speaks  heartier,  than  when  I  saw 
him.  last.  The  token  you  sent,  he  would  by 
no  means  be  persuaded  to  accept,  and  was 
almost  angry,  when  I  pressed  it  from  one 


160 


LIFE  OP  THE 


outed  as  well  as  himself.  He  said  he  did 
not  use  to  receive;  and  I  understand  since 
his  need  is  not  great.  We  sat  with  him 
about  an  hour.  I  was  very  glad  to  find,  that 
he  so  much  approved  my  present  circum- 
stances. He  said  he  knew  not  why  young 
men  might  not  improve  as  well  as  by  travel- 
ling abroad.  He  inquired  for  the  Shropshire 
friends,  and  observed,  that  of  those  gentle- 
men who  were  with  him  at  Wem,  he  hears 
of  none  whose  sons  tread  in  their  father^s 
steps,  but  Colonel  Hunt's.  ...  He  gave  us 
some  good  counsel  to  prepare  for  trials;  and 
said  the  best  preparation  for  them  was  a  life 
of  faith,  and  constant  course  of  self-denial. 
He  thought  it  harder  constantly  to  deny 
temptations  to  sensual  lusts  and  pleasures, 
than  to  resist  one  single  temptation  to  deny 
Christ  for  fear  of  suffering :  the  former  re- 
quiring such  constant  watchfulness.  How- 
ever, after  the  former  the  latter  will  be  the 
easier.  He  said,  we  who  are  young  are  apt 
to  count  upon  great  things;  but  we  must  not 
look  for  them;  and  much  more  to  this  pur- 
pose. He  said,  he  thought  dying  by  sick- 
ness much  more  painful  and  dreadful  than 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  161 


dying  a  violent  death;  especially  considering 
the  extraordinary  supports  which  those  have, 
who  suffer  for  righteousness'  sake." 

When  it  was  seen  that  Baxter  would 
neither  pay  the  fine  nor  petition  for  a  release, 
a  private  offer  appears  to  have  been  made 
to  him  through  Lord  Powis,  that  the  king 
would  grant  it  as  a  matter  of  favour.  A 
man  by  the  name  of  Williams  offered  to  as- 
sist him,  in  procuring  his  liberty.  Baxter 
appears  to  have  had  some  suspicion  of  him; 
and  his  object  at  last  appeared  to  be  to  get 
money;  as  he  afterwards  made  a  demand  of 
^638,  for  his  trouble.  Baxter  resisted  this 
demand,  and  sent  to  Lord  Powis,  who  so- 
lemnly declared,  that  this  man  had  no  influ- 
ence whatever,  and  deserved  no  reward. 
Lord  Powis  himself  appears  to  have  been 
the  man  who  managed  this  affair,  and  ob- 
tained Baxter's  deliverance  from  prison, 
though  not  his  release  from  the  bond  by 
which  he  was  bound  over  to  his  good  beha- 
viour. On  the  24th  of  November,  1686,  Sir 
Samuel  Astrey  sent  his  warrant  to  the  keeper 
of  the  King's  Bench  prison,  to  discharge  him. 
He  gave  sureties,  however,  for  his  good  be- 
haviour. His  majesty  signified  that  it  should 
14 


162 


LIFE  OF  THE 


not  be  interpreted  as  a  breach  of  good  beha- 
viour, to  reside  in  London,  though  that  was 
inconsistent  with  the  Oxford  act.  For  some 
time  after  his  release  he  continued  to  Wve 
within  the  rules  of  the  Bench;  till,  on  the 
28th  of  February,  1687,  he  removed  to  his 
house  in  the  Charter-house-yard;  and  again, 
as  far  as  his  health  would  permit,  assisted 
Mr.  Sylvester  in  his  public  labours. 

Towards  the  close  of  his  course,  Baxter 
took  a  solemn  review  of  his  life,  opinions, 
and  writings,  and  much  benefit  may  be  de- 
rived from  these  mature  reflections.  He  does 
not  profess  to  give  an  account  of  God's  va- 
rious dealings  towards  him  as  an  individual, 
either  in  his  providence  or  grace.  "  For  any 
particular  account  of  heart  occurrences  and 
God's  operations  on  me,  I  think  it  some- 
what unsavoury  to  recite  them:  seeing  God's 
dealings  are  much  the  same  with  all  his  ser- 
vants in  the  main;  and  points  wherein  he 
varieth,  are  usually  so  small,  that  I  think  such 
not  fit  to  be  repeated.  Nor  have  I  any  thing 
extraordinary  to  glory  in,  which  is  not  com- 
mon to  the  rest  of  my  brethren,  who  have 
the  same  spirit,  and  are  servants  of  the  same 
Lord.    The  true  reason  why  1  do  adventure 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  163 


SO  far  upon  the  censure  of  the  world,  as  to 
tell  them  wherein  the  case  is  altered  with 
me  is,  that  I  may  take  off  young  inexpe- 
rienced Christians  from  over  confidence  in 
their  first  apprehensions,  and  from  overvalu- 
ing their  first  degrees  of  grace,  or  too  much 
applauding,  or  following  unfurnished,  inex- 
perienced men;  and  that  they  may  be  direct- 
ed what  mind  and  course  of  life  to  prefer,  by 
the  judgment  of  one  that  hath  tried  both  be- 
fore them. 

"  The  temper  of  my  mind  hath  somewhat 
altered  with  the  temper  of  my  body.  When 
I  was  young,  I  was  more  vigorous,  affec- 
tionate, and  fervent  in  preaching,  conference, 
and  prayer,  than  ordinarily  I  can  be  now. 
My  style  was  more  extemporate  and  loose, 
but  by  the  advantage  of  warmth,  and  a  very 
familiar  moving  voice  and  utterance,  my 
preaching  then  did  more  affect  the  auditory, 
than  it  did  many  of  the  last  years  before  I 
gave  over  preaching.  But  what  I  delivered 
then  was  much  more  raw,  and  had  more 
passages  that  would  not  bear  the  trial  of  ac- 
curate judgment;  and  my  discourses  had  both 
less  snbstance  and  less  judgment,  than  of  late. 

"  My  understanding  was  then  quicker  and 


164 


LIFE  OP  THE 


could  more  easily  manage  any  thing  that 
was  presented  to  it  on  a  sudden;  but  it  is 
since  better  acquainted  with  the  ways  of 
truth  and  error,  and  with  a  multitude  of 
mistakes  of  the  world,  which  I  then  did  not 
actually  know.  I  was  then  like  a  man  of 
quick  understanding,  who  was  to  travel  where 
he  never  went  before,  or  to  cast  up  an  ac- 
count which  he  had  not  before  examined,  or 
to  play  on  an  instrument  of  music  which  be 
never  saw  before:  so  that  I  am  very  confi- 
dent that  my  judgment  is  much  sounder  and 

firmer  now  than  it  was  then  

"  In  my  younger  years,  my  trouble  for  sin 
was  more  about  my  actual  failings;  but  now 
I  am  much  more  troubled  for  inward  defects 
for  want  of  the  vital  graces  of  the  soul.  My 
daily  trouble  is  for  my  ignorance  of  God, 
weakness  of  belief,  want  of  greater  love  to 
God,  strangeness  to  him,  and  to  the  life  to 
come,  and  for  want  of  a  greater  willingness 
to  die,  and  more  longing  to  be  with  God  in 
heaven.  .  .  .  Had  I  all  the  riches  of  the 
world  how  gladly  would  I  give  them  for  a 
fuller  knowledge,  belief,  and  love  of  God  and 
everlasting  glory!  These  wants  are  the  great- 
est burden  of  my  life  and  which  make  my 
life  itself  a  burden. 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  165 

"Heretofore  I  placed  much  of  my  reli- 
gion in  tenderness  of  heart,  grieving  for  sin, 
and  penitential  tears;  and  less  of  it  in  the 
love  of  God,  in  studying  his  goodness,  and 
in  engaging  in  his  joyful  praises,  than  now 
I  do  

"  My  judgment  is  much  more  for  frequent 
and  serious  meditation,  on  the  heavenly 
blessedness  than  it  was  in  my  younger  days, 
I  then  thought  a  sermon  on  the  attributes  of 
God  and  the  joys  of  heaven  not  the  most  ex- 
cellent.— Nothing  pleased  me  so  well  as  the 
doctrine  of  regeneration  and  the  marks  of 
sincerity;  because  these  things  were  suitable 
to  my  own  state;  but  now  I  had  rather  hear, 
read,  and  meditate  on  God  and  heaven  than 
on  any  other  subject.  I  perceive  it  is  the  ob- 
ject which  altereth  and  elevateth  the  mind; 
which  will  resemble  that  it  most  frequently 
feedeth  on.  It  is  not  only  useful  to  our  com- 
fort to  be  much  in  heaven  in  believing 
thoughts,  it  must  animate  all  our  other  duties, 
and  fortify  us  against  every  temptation  and 
sin. 

"  Formerly  I  knew  much  less  than  now, 
and  yet  was  not  half  so  much  acquainted 
with  my  own  ignorance.    I  had  a  great  de- 


166 


LIFE  OF  THE 


light  in  the  daily  new  discoveries  which  I 
made,  and  of  the  light  which  shined  in  upon 
me,  like  a  man  that  cometh  into  a  country 
where  he  never  was  before.  .  .  I  now  find 
far  greater  darkness  in  all  things,  and  per- 
ceive how  very  little  we  know  in  comparison 
of  that  of  which  we  are  ignorant.  I  have 
therefore  far  meaner  thoughts  of  my  own  un- 
derstanding, though  I  must  needs  know  it  is 
better  furnished  than  it  was  then. 

"  I  now  see  more  good  and  evil  than  here- 
tofore I  did.  I  see  that  good  men  are  not  so 
good  as  I  once  thought  them,  but  have  more 
imperfections,  and  that  a  nearer  approach 
and  fuller  trial  do  make  the  best  appear  more 
faulty  than  their  admirers  at  a  distance  think. 
I  find  that  few  are  so  bad  as  malicious  ene- 
mies, or  censorious,  separating  professors  do 
imagine.  In  some,  indeed,  I  find  that  human 
nature  is  corrupted  into  a  greater  likeness  to 
devils,  than  I  once  thought  any  on  earth  had 
been;  but  even  in  the  wicked,  usually,  there 
is  more  for  grace  to  make  advantage  of,  and 
more  to  testify  for  God  and  holiness,  than  I 
once  believed  there  had  been. 

"  I  less  admire  gifts  of  utterance,  and  the 
bare  profession  of  religion,  than  I  once  did; 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  167 


and  have  much  more  charity  for  many  who, 
by  the  want  of  gifts,  make  an  obscure  pro- 
fession. I  once  thought  that  almost  all  who 
could  pray  movingly  and  fluently,  and  talk 
well  of  religion,  had  been  saints.  But  expe- 
rience hath  opened  to  me  what  odious  crimes 
may  consist  with  high  profession;  while  I 
have  met  with  divers  obscure  persons,  not 
noted  for  any  extraordinary  profession  or 
forwardness  in  religion,  but  only  to  live  a 
quiet,  blameless  life,  whom  I  have  after  found 
to  have  long  lived,  as  far  as  I  could  discover, 
a  truly  godly  and  sanctified  life;  only  their 
prayers  and  duties  were,  by  accident,  kept 
secret  from  other  men's  observation.  Yet  he 
that  would,  upon  this  pretence,  confound  the 
godly  and  ungodly,  may  as  well  go  about  to 
lay  heaven  and  hell  together. 

"I  am  not  so  narrow  in  my  special  love 
as  formerly,  being  less  censorious,  and  taking 
more  than  I  did  for  saints;  it  must  needs 
follow,  that  I  love  more  as  saints  than  I  did 
formerly. 

"  I  am  not  so  narrow  in  my  principles  of 
church  communion  as  once  I  was.  I  more 
plainly  perceive  the  difference  between  the 
church  as  congregate  and  visible,  and  as 


168 


LIFE  OP  THE 


regenerate  or  mystical.  I  can  now  distin*- 
guish  between  sincerity  and  profession;  that 
a  credible  profession  is  proof  sufficient  of  a 
man's  title  to  church  admission;  and  that  the 
profession  is  credible  in  foro  ecclesise,  which 
is  not  disproved.  I  am  not  for  narrowing 
the  church  more  than  Christ  himself  alloweth 
us,  nor  for  robbing  him  of  any  of  his  flock. 
I  am  more  sensible,  how  it  is  the  will  of 
Christ  that  every  man  be  the  chooser  or  re- 
fuser of  his  own  felicity,  and  that  it  lieth 
most  on  his  own  hands  whether  he  will  have 
communion  with  the  church  or  not;  and  that 
if  he  be  a  hypocrite,  it  is  himself  that  will 
bear  the  loss. 

"  Yet  I  am  more  sensible  than  ever  of  the 
great  use  and  need  of  ecclesiastical  discipline; 
what  a  sin  it  is  in  the  pastors  of  the  church 
to  make  no  distinction,  but  by  bare  names 
and  sacraments!  What  a  great  dishonour 
to  Christ  it  is,  when  the  church  is  as  vicious 
as  pagan  and  Mahometan  assemblies,  and 
differs  from  them  only  in  ceremony  and 
name ! 

"  I  am  much  more  sensible  how  prone 
many  young  professors  are  to  spiritual  pride, 
and  self-conceitedness,  and  unruliuess,  and 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  169 

division,  and  so  to  prove  the  grief  of  their 
teachers,  and  firebrands  in  the  church;  and 
how  much  of  a  minister's  work  heth  in  pre- 
venting this,  and  in  humbhng  and  confirming 
such  young  and  inexperienced  professors, 
and  keeping  them  in  order  in  their  progress 
in  rehgion.  Yet  I  am  more  sensible  of  the 
sin  and  mischief  of  using  men  cruelly  in 
matters  of  religion,  and  of  pretending  men's 
good  and  the  order  of  the  church,  for  acts  of 
inhumanity  or  micharitableness.  Such  know 
not  their  own  infirmity,  nor  yet  the  nature 
of  the  pastoral  government,  which  ought  to 
be  paternal  and  by  love;  nor  do  they  know 
the  way  to  win  a  soul,  or  to  maintain  the 
church's  peace. 

"  My  soul  is  much  more  afliicted  with  the 
thoughts  of  this  miserable  world,  and  more 
•drawn  out  in  desire  of  its  conversion  thani 
heretofore.  I  was  wont  to  look  little  further 
than  England  in  my  prayers,  not  considering 
the  state  of  the  rest  of  the  world;  or  if  I 
prayed  for  the  conversion  of  the  Jews,  that 
was  almost  all.  But  now,  as  I  better  under- 
stand the  case  of  the  world,  and  the  method 
of  the  '  Lord's  prayer,'  there  is  nothing  in  the 
world  that  lieth  so  heavy  on  my  heart,  as  the 
15 


170  LIFE  OF  THE 

thought  of  the  miserable  nations  of  the  earth. 
It  is  the  most  astonishing  part  of  all  God's 
providence  to  me,  thai  he  so  far  forsakelh 
almost  all  the  world,  and  confineth  his  special 
favour  to  so  few;  that  so  small  a  part  of  the 
world  hath  the  profession  of  Christianit\^,  in 
comparison  of  heathens,  Mahometans,  and 
ignorant  nations  of  the  earth;  that  among 
Christians  there  are  so  few  that  are  saved 
from  gross  delusions,  and  have  any  compe- 
tent knowledge;  and  that  among  these  there 
are  so  few  that  are  seriously  religions,  and 
set  their  hearts  on  heaven.  No  part  of  my 
prayers  is  so  deeply  serious  as  that  for  in- 
fidels, and  for  the  conversion  of  an  ungodly 
world;  that  God's  name  maybe  sanctified, 
and  his  kingdom  come,  and  his  will  be  done 
on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven. 

"  Nor  was  I  ever  before  so  sensible  what 
a  plague  the  division  of  languages  is,  which 
hindereth  our  speaking  to  them  for  their 
conversion;  nor  what  a  great  sin  tyranny  is, 
which  keepeth  out  the  gospel  from  most  of 
the  nations  of  the  world.  Could  we  but  go 
among  Tartars,  Turks,  and  heathens,  and 
speak  their  language,  I  should  be  but  little 
troubled  for  the  silencing  of  eighteen  hundred 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  171 

ministers  at  once  in  England;  nor  for  all  the 
rest  that  were  cast  out  here,  and  in  Scotland 
and  Ireland;  there  being  no  employment  in 
the  world  so  desirable,  in  my  eyes,  as  to  la- 
bour for  the  winning  of  such  miserable  souls; 
which  maketh  me  greatly  honour  Mr.  John 
Eliot,  the  apostle  of  the  Indians  in  New 
England,  and  whoever  else  have  laboured 
in  such  a  work. 

"  I  am  more  deeply  afflicted  for  the  dis- 
agreements of  Christians,  than  I  was  when 
I  was  a  younger  Christian.  Except  the  case 
of  the  infidel  world,  nothing  is  so  bad  and 
grievous  to  my  thoughts  as  the  case  of  di- 
vided churches;  and,  therefore,  I  am  more 
deeply  sensible  of  the  sinfulness  of  those 
prelates  and  pastors  of  churches,  who  are 
the  principal  causes  of  such  divisions.  0 
how  many  millions  of  souls  are  kept  by 
them  in  ignorance  and  ungodliness,  and  de- 
luded by  faction,  as  if  it  were  true  religion ! 
How  is  the  conversion  of  infidels  hindered 
by  them,  and  Christ  and  religion  heinously 
dishonoured!  The  contentions  between  the 
Greek  church  and  the  Roman,  the  Papists 
and  Protestants,  the  Lutherans  and  the  Cal- 


172 


LIFE  OP  THE 


vinists,  have  wofully  hindered  the  kingdom 
of  Christ. 

"  I  am  further  than  ever  I  was  from  ex- 
pecting great  matters  of  unity,  splendour  and 
prosperity  to  the  Church  on  earth,  or  that 
saints  should  dream  of  a  kingdom  of  this 
world,  or  flatter  themselves  with  the  hope  of 
a  golden  age,  or  of  reigning  over  the  ungodly, 
till  there  be  new  heavens  and  a  new  earth, 
wherein  dwelleth  righteousness.  On  the  con- 
trary, I  am  more  apprehensive  that  suffering 
must  be  the  Church's  most  ordinary  lot,  and 
true  Christians  must  be  self-denying  cross- 
bearers,  even  where  there  are  none  but  for- 
mal, nominal  Christians  to  be  the  cross-ma- 
kers. 

"  I  do  not  lay  so  great  a  stress  on  the  ex- 
ternal modes  and  forms  of  worship,  as  many 
young  professors  do,  I  cannot  be  so  narrow 
in  my  principles  of  church  communion,  as 
many  are,  that  are  so  much  for  a  liturgy,  or 
so  much  against  it;  so  much  for  ceremonies, 
or  so  much  against  them,  that  they  can  hold 
no  communion  with  any  church  not  of  their 
way.  If  I  were  among  the  Greeks,  the  Lu- 
therans, the  Independents,  the  Anabaptists, 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  173 

owning  no  heresy,  nor  setting  themselves 
against  charity  and  peace,  I  would  sometimes 
hold  occasional  communion  with  them  as 
Christians,  if  they  would  give  me  leave,  with- 
out forcing  me  to  any  sinful  subscription  or 
action;  though  my  most  usual  communion 
should  be  with  that  society  which  I  thought 
most  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God,  if  I  were 
free  to  choose.  I  cannot  be  of  their  opinion, 
that  think  that  God  will  not  accept  him  that 
prayeth  by  the  common  prayer  book,  and 
that  such  forms  are  a  self-invented  worship, 
which  God  rejecteth;  nor  yet  can  I  be  of 
their  mind,  who  say  the  like  of  extempore 
prayers. 

"  I  am  much  less  regardful  of  the  appro- 
bation of  man,  and  set  much  lighter  by  con- 
tempt or  applause,  than  I  did  long  ago.  I 
am  oft  suspicious,  that  this  is  not  only  from 
the  increase  of  self-denial  and  humility, 
but  partly  from  my  being  glutted  and  sur- 
feited with  human  applause.  All  worldly 
things  appear  most  vain  and  unsatisfactory 
when  we  have  tried  them  most;  yet,  though 
I  feel  this  may  have  some  hand  in  the  effect, 
as  far  as  I  can  perceive,  the  principal  causes 
are,  the  knowledge  of  man's  nothingness, 


174 


LIFE  OF  THE 


and  God's  transcendent  greatness,  and  a 
sense  of  the  brevity  of  human  things,  and 
the  nearness  of  eternity;  which  some  have 
imputed  to  self-conceitedness  and  morose- 
ness. 

"  I  am  more  and  more  pleased  with  a  soU- 
tary  life:  and  though  in  a  way  of  self-denial 
I  could  submit  to  the  most  public  life  for  the 
service  of  God,  when  he  requireth  it,  and 
would  not  be  unprofitable  that  I  might  be 
private ;  yet  I  must  confess,  it  is  much  more 
pleasing  to  myself  to  be  retired  from  the 
world,  and  to  have  very  little  to  do  with 
men;  and  to  converse  with  God,  and  con- 
science, and  good  books. 

"  Though  never  much  tempted  to  the  sin 
of  covetousness,  my  fear  of  dying,  was  wont 
to  tell  me  that  I  was  not  sufficiently  loosened 
from  the  world;  but  now  I  find  it  much  easier 
to  be  loose  from  this  world,  than  to  live  by 
fahh  above.  To  despise  earth  is  easy  to  me, 
but  not  so  easy  to  be  conversant  with  hea- 
ven. I  have  nothing  in  the  world,  which  I 
could  not  easily  let  go;  but  to  get  satisfying 
apprehensions  of  the  other  world,  is  the  great 
and  grievous  difficulty. 

"  I  am  much  more  conscious  of  the  odi- 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  175 


ousness  of  the  sin  of  pride;  scarcely  any  sin 
appeareth  more  odions  to  me;  and,  especial- 
ly in  matters  spiritual  and  ecclesiastical.  I 
think  so  far  as  any  man  is  proud  he  is  kin  to 
the  devil,  and  utterly  a  stranger  to  God  and 
himself. 

"I  am  much  more  sensible  than  hereto- 
fore of  the  breadth,  and  length,  and  depth, 
of  the  radical,  universal,  odious  sin  of  selfish- 
ness, and  therefore  have  written  so  much 
against  it;  and  of  the  excellency  and  neces- 
sity of  self-denial,  and  of  a  public  mind,  and 
of  loving  our  neighbours  as  ourselves. 

"  I  am  more  solicitous  than  I  have  been 
about  my  duty  to  God,  and  less  solicitous 
about  his  dealings  with  me;  being  assured 
that  he  will  do  all  things  well;  acknowledg- 
ing the  goodness  of  all  the  declarations  of 
his  holiness,  even  in  the  punishment  of  man; 
and  knowing  that  there  is  no  rest  but  in  the 
will  and  goodness  of  God. 

"  Though  my  works  were  never  such  as 
could  be  any  temptation  to  me  to  dream  of 
obliging  God  by  proper  merit,  yet  one  of  the 
most  ready,  constant,  imdoubted  evidences  of 
my  uprightness,  and  interest  in  his  covenant, 
is,  the  consciousness  of  my  living  devoted  ta 


176 


LIFE  OP  THE 


him.  I  the  more  easily  believe  the  pardon 
of  my  failings,  through  my  Redeemer,  while 
I  know  that  I  serve  no  other  master,  and 
that  I  know  no  other  end,  but  to  live  to  him 
in  the  world,  notwithstanding  my  infirmities. 
This  bent  and  business  of  my  life,  with  my 
longing  desires  after  perfection  in  the  know- 
ledge and  love  of  God,  and  in  a  holy  and 
heavenly  mind,  are  the  two  constant,  stand- 
ing evidences  which  put  me  out  of  doubt  of 
my  sincerity. 

"  Though  my  habitual  judgment,  resolu- 
tion, and  scope  of  life,  be  still  the  same,  yet 
I  find  great  mutability  as  to  the  actual  ap- 
prehensions and  degrees  of  grace;  and  con- 
sequently find,  that  so  mutable  a  thing  as 
the  mind  of  man,  would  never  keep  itself  if 
God  were  not  its  keeper. 

"Thus  much  of  the  alterations  of  my  soul 
since  my  younger  years,  I  thought  best  to 
give  the  reader,  instead  of  all  those  expe- 
riences and  actual  motions  and  affections, 
which  I  suppose  him  rather  to  have  expect- 
ed an  account  of.  And  having  transcribed 
thus  much  of  a  life  which  God  hath  read, 
and  conscience  hath  read,  and  must  further 
read,  I  humbly  lament  it,  and  beg  pardon  of 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  177 


it,  as  sinful,  and  too  unequal  and  unprofita- 
ble. I  warn  the  reader  to  amend  that  in  his 
own,  which  he  findeth  to  be  amiss  in  mine; 
confessing  also  that  much  hath  been  amiss, 
which  I  have  not  here  particularly  mention- 
ed, and  that  I  have  not  lived  according  to 
the  abundant  mercies  of  the  Lord.  But  what 
I  have  recorded  hath  been  especially  to  per- 
form my  vows,  and  declare  his  praise  to  all 
generations,  who  hath  filled  up  my  days  with 
his  invaluable  favours,  and  bound  me  to 
bless  his  name  for  ever. 

"  Having  mentioned  the  changes,  which  I 
think  were  for  the  better,  I  must  add,  that  as 
I  confessed  many  of  my  sins  before,  so  I 
have  been  guilty  of  many  since,  which  be- 
cause materially  they  seemed  small,  have 
had  the  less  resistance,  and  yet  on  the  review 
do  trouble  me  more  than  if  they  had  been 
greater,  done  in  ignorance.  To  have  sinned, 
while  I  wrote  and  preached  against  sin, 
and  had  such  abundant  and  great  obliga- 
tions from  God,  and  made  so  many  promises 
against  it,  doth  lay  me  very  low;  not  so 
much  in  fear  of  hell,  as  in  great  displeasure 
against  myself,  and  such  self-abhorrence  as 
would  cause  revenge  against  myself,  were  it 


178 


LIFE  OF  THE 


not  forbidden.  When  God  forgiveth  me  I 
cannot  forgive  myself;  especially  for  my  rash 
words  or  deeds,  by  which  I  have  seemed  in- 
jurious, and  less  tender  and  kind  than  I 
should  have  been  to  my  near  and  dear  rela- 
tions, whose  love  abundantly  obliged  me. 
When  such  are  dead,  though  we  never  dif- 
fered in  point  of  interest,  or  any  other  mat- 
ter, every  sour  or  cross  provoking  word, 
which  I  gave  theni  maketh  me  almost  irre- 
concilable to  myself. 

"That  which  I  have  named  by-the-by,  is 
grown  one  of  my  great  diseases.  I  have  lost 
much  of  that  zeal  which  I  had  to  propagate 
any  truths  to  others,  save  the  mere  funda- 
mentals. When  I  perceive  ministers  or  peo- 
ple to  think  they  know  what  they  do  not, 
which  is  too  common,  and  to  dispute  those 
things  which  they  never  thoroughly  studied, 
or  expect  that  I  should  debate  the  case  with 
them,  as  if  an  hour's  talk  would  serve  in- 
stead of  an  acute  understanding  and  seven 
years'  study,  I  have  no  zeal  to  make  them 
of  my  opinion,  but  an  impatience  of  continu- 
ing discourse  with  them  on  such  subjects; 
and  am  apt  to  be  silent,  or  to  turn  to  some- 
thing else;  which,  though  there  be  some  rea- 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  179 

son  for  it,  I  feel  cometh  from  a  want  of  zeal 
for  the  truth,  and  from  an  impatient  temper 
of  mind.  I  am  ready  to  think  that  people 
should  quickly  understand  all  in  a  few  words; 
and  if  they  cannot,  to  despair  of  them,  and 
leave  them  to  themselves.  I  know  the  more 
that  this  is  sinful  in  me,  because  it  is  partly 
so  in  other  things,  even  about  the  faults  of 
my  servants,  or  other  inferiors;  if  three  or 
four  warnings  do  not  do  them  good,  I  am 
much  tempted  to  despair  of  them,  turn  them 
away,  and  leave  them  to  themselves. 

"  I  mention  all  these  distempers  that  my 
faults  may  be  a  warning  to  others  to  take 
heed;  as  they  call  on  myself  for  repentance 
and  watchfulness.  0  Lord!  for  the  merits, 
and  sacrifice,  and  intercession  of  Christ,  be 
merciful  to  me  a  sinner,  and  forgive  my 
known  and  unknown  sins." 

"  If  ever  a  human  being,"  says  Orme, 
"  was  made  transparent  by  its  own  simpli- 
city and  integrity,  we  may  be  justified  in 
saying,  it  was  Richard  Baxter.  In  the  length- 
ened and  rigid  description  which  he  has  given 
of  himself,  he  may  be  regarded  as  furnishing 
us  with  that  window  in  the  breast,  for  which 
the  philosopher  so  ardently,  but  vainly,  sigh- 


180 


LIFE  OF  THE 


ed;  and  by  which  he  has  enabled  us  to  see 
all  its  movements  and  hidden  springs.  Mak- 
ing every  allowance  for  the  deceitfulness  of 
the  human  heart,  and  that  partiahty  to  our- 
selves which  constitutes  one  of  the  leading 
evils  of  our  nature,  no  reasonable  doubt  can 
be  entertained  that  Baxter  has  given  a  full 
and  very  fair  view  of  his  principles  and  cha- 
racter. It  is  certain,  that  his  judgment  of 
himself  leaned  to  the  severe  rather  than  the 
lax  side ;  and  that  while  he  wished  before 
men  to  be  acquitted  of  evils  and  crimes  of 
which  he  had  not  been  guilty,  and  the  ad- 
mission of  which  would  have  fixed  reproach 
on  the  gospel,  he  was  chiefly  desirous  that 
no  over  estimate  should  be  formed  of  his 
attainments  as  a  Christian." 

His  solemn  warnings  to  the  young  and  in- 
experienced are  not  to  be  considered  as  the 
doting  of  an  old  man,  peevish  from  his  own 
waning  popularity,  or  from  being  oversha- 
dowed by  the  splendid  attractions  of  others. 
He  had  had  much  experience  among  the 
professors  of  religion,  over  many  of  whom 
he  had  been  called  to  mourn.  His  instruc- 
tions are  as  applicable  now  as  ever,  when  so 
many  are  injured  by  want  of  sobriety  of 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  181 

mind,  and  are  ready  to  be  tossed  about  by 
every  wind  t)f  doctrine ;  when  Christianity 
has  come  to  be  regarded  as  a  new  discovery, 
which  nobody  has  understood  till  lately;  and 
the  Bible  considered  as  a  book  of  enigmas, 
capable  of  the  wildest  solutions,  and  the 
most  fanciful  combinations.  To  follow  truth 
wherever  it  may  lead  is  the  duty  of  all  Chris- 
tians: to  have  the  fortitude  to  stop  where  its 
evidence  ceases;  not  to  substitute  our  own 
fancies  in  the  place  of  the  revelation  of  God; 
to  be  ready  to  receive  from  all,  and  to  refuse 
to  submit  to  the  dictation  of  any,  ought  no 
less  to  be  our  study  and  our  aim. 

The  love  of  controversy  is  hateful,  the  fear 
of  it  pusillanimous.  Both  ought  to  be  avoid- 
ed by  every  rightly  constituted  mind.  No 
man  of  his  age  engaged  more  in  it  than  Bax- 
ter, and  yet  no  man  spoke  more  against  it. 
In  both  he  was  sincere.  He  loved  not  con- 
troversy for  its  own  sake,  but  he  was  fre- 
quently impelled  by  a  love  of  truth,  or  that 
which  he  considered  as  truth,  to  engage  in 
what  was  most  unpleasant  to  Christian  feel- 
ings. He  sometimes  erred  in  his  judgment 
in  these  matters,  but  never  was  influenced  by 
unworthy  motives,  or  guilty  of  disingenuous 


182 


LIFE  OF  THE 


conduct.  He  loved  peace  and  he  loved  his 
friends;  but  he  loved  truth  more. 

It  is  instructive  to  observe  the  deep  hu- 
milit}^  of  his  mind,  and  the  tenderness  of  his 
conscience.  As  he  approached  the  world  of 
glory  and  appeared  to  others,  to  be  eminent- 
ly fitted  for  its  enjoyments,  the  contemplation 
of  its  light  and  splendour,  only  made  his 
darkness  and  pollution  more  apparent  to 
himself.  The  increasing  clearness  of  his 
perceptions  had  not  only  a  direct,  but  a  reflex 
operation.  If  it  increased  his  knowledge 
of  heaven,  and  inflamed  his  desire  of  its 
blessedness,  it  also  filled  him  with  a  deeper 
consciousness  of  his  own  immeetness  for  its 
pure  and  perfect  felicity.  He  rejoiced,  he 
also  trembled;  he  exuhed  in  hope,  but  he 
also  feared  as  a  sinner.  While  the  Divine 
character  attracted  him  by  its  infinite  love 
and  compassion,  it  awed  him  by  the  majesty 
of  its  holiness,  and  its  peerless  glory. 

The  importance  which  he  attached  to  the 
enjoyment  of  God,  as  the  main  spring  and 
principle  of  genuine  religion,  and  the  degree 
in  which  he  appears  to  have  experienced  it, 
are  delightful  proofs  of  the  ripeness  of  his 
own  soul  for  that  blessedness  for  which  he 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 


183 


so  earnestly  panted.  The  expansion  of  his 
love  to  God  increased  his  love  to  men ;  led 
him  to  bear  with  their  infirmities,  to  mourn 
over  their  evils,  and  to  pity  their  miseries. 
As  he  approached  nearer  to  heaven,  he  seem- 
ed to  breathe  more  of  this  spirit,  and  to  carry 
its  very  atmosphere,  an  atmosphere  of  holy 
love,  about  him.  He  felt  he  had  little  more 
to  do  upon  earth  than  to  pray  for  its  guilty 
inhabitants,  and  supplicate  God  to  establish 
his  own  kingdom.  Thus  did  he  continue  to 
bless  that  world  in  which  he  had  experienced 
so  much  ingratitude  and  affliction,  and  pre- 
pare for  the  mansions  in  his  Father's  house, 
in  which  he  is,  no  doubt,  now  enjoying  a  dis- 
tinguished place. 

During  the  reign  of  James  II.  Baxter 
seems  to  have  mingled  but  little  in  public 
affairs.  His  bodily  afflictions  were  great,  and 
he  was  cruelly  persecuted,  the  greater  part 
of  the  time.  What  his  opinion  was  of  the 
revolution,  we  have  no  opportunity  of  know- 
ing. When  the  prince  of  Orange  arrived  in 
London,  the  dissenting  ministers  to  the  num- 
ber of  ninety,  waited  on  him  with  a  congrat- 
ulatory address;  but  it  is  probable,  Baxter 


184 


LIFE  OF  THE 


was  not  of  the  number.  His  age  and  infir- 
mities disqualified  him  for  such  a  ser\  ice. 

When  the  act  of  toleration  was  passed  and 
a  qualified  subscription  to  the  articles  of  re- 
ligion, required  of  all  who  would  avail  them- 
selves of  the  privilege  which  this  law  con- 
ferred, Baxter  drew  up  a  long  paper  of  ex- 
planations and  exceptions,  in  which  he  ex- 
plicitly declared  in  what  sense  he  received 
the  articles,  and  expressing  his  dissent  from 
other  constructions  which  might  be  put  upon 
them.  Eighty  of  the  dissenting  ministers  of 
London  concurred  with  him  in  his  explana- 
tions and  objections;  and  upon  these  prin- 
ciples they  were  contented  to  subscribe. 

The  affair  of  the  agreement  of  the  Lon- 
don Presbyterian  and  Independent  ministers, 
must  have  interested  Baxter  much,  as  union 
was  always  dear  to  his  heart ;  and  every 
scheme  for  promoting  it,  would  meet  with 
his  cordial  concurrence,  as  long  as  he  was 
capable  of  writing  or  speaking.  These  arti- 
cles of  agreement  were  adopted  before  Bax- 
ter's death,  although  they  were  not  publish- 
ed till  1692. 

From  the  time  of  his  release  from  im- 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  185 

prisonment,  Baxter  lived  in  Charter-house 
square,  near  the  meeting-house  then  occu- 
pied by  his  friend  Sylvester;  for  whom  he 
preached  gratuitously  on  the  Lord's  day 
mornings,  and  every  alternate  Thursday 
morning,  as  long  as  his  strength  permitted. 
When  he  had  assisted  his  friend  in  this  man- 
ner for  four  years  and  a  half,  he  was  no 
longer  able  to  go  on  with  public  preaching; 
but  during  the  residue  of  his  life  he  opened 
the  doors  of  his  own  house  twice  every  day, 
to  all  that  would  come  to  join  him  in  family 
worship,  to  whom  he  read  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, from  whence  '  he  preached  the  king- 
dom of  God,  and  taught  those  things  which 
concern  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  with  all  con- 
fidence, no  man  forbidding  him,'  even  as  one 
greater  than  himself  had  done  before  him. 
But  at  last  his  growing  infirmities  took  him 
off  from  this  also;  confining  him  first  to  his 
chamber  and  then  to  his  bed.  There,  though 
pain  and  sickness  wasted  his  body,  his  soul 
remained  rational,  strong  in  faith  and  hope; 
arguing  itself  into,  and  preserving  itself  in 
patience  and  joy  through  grace;  which  gave 
him  great  support,  and  kept  out  doubts  and 
fears  concerning  his  eternal  welfare.  The 
16 


186 


LIFE  OP  THE 


latter  years  of  his  life,  though  full  of  bodily 
suffering  and  sorrow,  and  less  occupied  with 
the  public  service  of  God,  were  not  years  of 
idleness.  Between  the  year  16S2  and  his 
death,  he  wrote  many  of  his  works,  and  some 
of  these  the  most  useful.  During  this  period, 
not  to  mention  single  sermons  and  tracts,  he 
published,  his  True  History  of  Councils 
enlarged  and  defended On  the  Immor- 
tahty  of  the  soul,  and  the  Nature  of  Spirits;" 
"Compassionate  Counsels  to  young  men;'' 
"Family  Catechism;''  "Dying  Thoughts;'' 
"Dangerous  Schismatic  detected;"  "  Catho- 
lic Communion  defended;"  "Paraphrase  on 
the  New  Testament;"  "English  Noncon- 
formity;" "Knowledge  and  Love  compar- 
ed;" "  Cain  and  Abel's  malignity" — Several 
pieces  on  the  Antinomian  and  Millennarian 
Controversies.  The  very  last  productions  of 
his  pen  show,  that  though  his  eyes  had  wax- 
ed dim,  and  his  natural  force  had  abated,  the 
ardour  of  his  mind  had  scarcely,  if  at  all, 
been  impaired. 

Dr.  Calamy,  who  visited  him  during  the 
last  year  of  his  life,  tells  us,  "'  he  talked  in 
the  pulpit  with  great  freedom  about  another 
world,  like  one  that  had  been  there,  and  was 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  187 

come  as  a  sort  of  express  from  thence,  to 
make  a  report  concerning  it.  He  delivered 
himself  in  public,  as  well  as  in  private,  with 
great  vivacity,  and  freedom,  and  his  thoughts 
had  a  peculiar  edge." 

Dr.  Bates,  however,  has  furnished  the 
most  minute  and  most  interesting  account  of 
the  last  trying  scene  of  Baxter's  pilgrimage. 
His  funeral  sermon,  on  occasion  of  his  death, 
is  one  of  the  best  specimens  of  the  preaching 
of  that  excellent  man.  He  had  closely  stu- 
died the  character  of  his  friend,  to  whom  he 
appears  to  have  been  most  tenderly  attached; 
and  on  whom  he  has  pronounced  an  eulo- 
gium,  not  more  deserved  by  his  character, 
than  it  is  beautiful  in  itself.  But  it  will  be 
sufficient  in  this  place  to  extract  what  re- 
lates to  Baxter's  sickness  and  death. 

"  He  continued  to  preach  so  long,  notwith- 
standing his  wasted  and  languishing  body, 
that  the  last  time  he  almost  died  in  the  pul- 
pit. It  would  doubtless  have  been  his  joy 
to  have  been  transfigured  in  the  mount.  Not 
long  after  he  felt  the  approaches  of  death, 
and  was  confined  to  his  sick  bed.  Death 
reveals  the  secrets  of  the  heart:  then  words 
are  spoken  with  most  feeling  and  least  affec- 


188 


LIFE  OF  THE 


tation.  This  excellent  saint  was  the  same 
in  his  Ufe  and  death :  his  last  hours  were 
spent  in  preparing  others  and  himself  to  ap- 
pear before  God.  He  said  to  his  friends  who 
visited  him,  ^  Ye  come  hither  to  learn  to  die. 
I  am  not  the  only  person  that  must  go  this 
way.  I  can  assure  you,  that  your  whole 
life,  be  it  ever  so  long,  is  little  enough  to  pre- 
pare for  death.  Have  a  care  of  this  vain  de- 
ceitful world,  and  the  lusts  of  the  flesh.  Be 
sure  you  choose  God  for  your  portion,  hea- 
ven for  your  home,  God's  glory  for  your  end, 
his  word  for  your  rule ;  and  then  you  need 
never  fear,  but  we  shall  meet  with  comfort.' 

"  Never  was  penitent  sinner  more  humble; 
never  was  a  sincere  believer  more  calm  and 
comfortable.  He  acknowledged  himself  to 
be  the  vilest  dunghill  worm  (it  was  his  usual 
expression)  that  ever  went  to  heaven.  He 
admired  the  Divine  condescension  to  us,  often 
saying,  ^  Lord,  what  is  man;  what  am  I  vile 
worm,  to  the  great  God  ?'  Many  times  he 
prayed,  *  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner:' 
And  blessed  God  that  this  was  left  on  record 
in  the  gospel,  as  an  effectual  prayer.  He 
said,  '  God  may  justly  condemn  me  for  the 
best  duty  I  ever  did.    All  my  hopes  are 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  189 

from  the  free  mercy  of  God  in  Christ/  which 
he  often  prayed  for. 

"  After  a  slumber,  he  waked,  and  said,  *  I 
shall  rest  from  my  labour.'  A  minister  pre- 
sent said,  ^  And  your  works  shall  follow 
you.'  To  whom  he  replied,  *  No  works;  I 
will  leave  out  works,  if  God  will  grant  me 
the  other.'  When  a  friend  was  comforting 
him  with  the  remembrance  of  the  good  many 
had  received  by  his  preaching  and  wrhings, 
he  said,  *  I  was  but  a  pen  in  God's  hands, 
and  what  praise  is  due  to  a  pen  ?' 

"  His  resigned  submission  to  the  will  of 
God  in  his  sharp  sickness  was  eminent. 
When  extremity  of  pain  constrained  him 
earnestly  to  pray  to  God  for  his  release  by 
death,  he  would  check  himself,  "  It  is  not  fit 
for  me  to  prescribe — when  thou  wilt,  what 
thou  wilt,  and  how  thou  wilt.' 

"  Being  in  great  anguish  he  said,  ^0 !  how 
unsearchable  are  his  judgments,  and  his 
ways  past  finding  out :  the  reaches  of  his 
providence  we  cannot  fathom.'  And  to  his 
friends,  *  Do  not  think  the  worse  of  religion 
for  what  ye  see  me  suffer.' 

"  Being  often  asked  by  his  friends,  how  it 
was  with  his  inward  man,  he  replied,  *  I 


have  a  Avell  grounded  assurance  of  my  eter- 
nal happiness,  and  great  peace  and  comfort 
within.'  But  it  was  his  trouble  he  could 
not  express  it  triumphantly,  by  reason  of  his 
extreme  pains.  He  said,  *  Flesh  must  perish 
and  we  must  feel  the  perishing  of  it;  and 
that  though  his  judgment  submitted,  yet 
sense  would  still  make  him  groan.' 

"Being  asked  by  a  person  of  quality, 
whether  he  had  not  great  joy  from  his  be- 
lieving apprehensions  of  the  invisible  state, 
he  replied,  "What  else  think  you  Christian- 
ity serves  for?"  He  said  the  consideration 
of  the  Deity  in  his  greatness  and  glory  was 
too  high  for  our  thought;  but  the  considera- 
tion of  the  Son  of  God  in  our  nature,  and  of 
the  saints  in  heaven  whom  he  loved,  did 
much  sweeten  and  familiarize  heaven  to  him. 
The  description  in  Heb.  xii.  22,  was  most 
comfortable  to  him;  that  he  was  going  to 
the  innumerable  company  of  angels,  and  to 
the  general  assembly  and  Church  of  the  first 
born,  whose  names  are  written  in  heaven; 
and  to  God  the  Judge  of  all,  and  to  the  spirits 
of  just  men  made  perfect,  and  to  Jesus  the 
Mediator  of  the  new  covenant ;  and  to  the 
blood  of  sprinkling  that  speaketh  better 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  191 

things  than  the  blood  of  Abel.'  That  Scrip- 
ture he  said  deserved  a  thousand,  thousand 
thoughts.  0  how  comfortable  is  that  pro- 
mise, ^  Eye  hath  not  seen  nor  ear  heard, 
neither  hath  it  entered  into  the  heart  of  man 
to  conceive,  the  things  God  hath  laid  up  for 
those  that  love  him.'  At  another  time,  he 
said,  Uhat  he  found  great  comfort  and  sweet- 
ness in  repeating  the  Lord's  Prayer,  and  was 
sorry  some  good  people  were  prejudiced 
against  the  use  of  it,  for  there  were  all  ne- 
cessary petitions,  for  the  soul  and  the  body, 
contained  in  it.' 

"  At  other  times  he  gave  excellent  coun- 
sels to  young  ministers  that  visited  him ; 
earnestly  prayed  to  God  to  bless  their  la- 
bours, and  make  them  very  successful  in 
turning  many  souls  to  Christ ;  expressed 
great  joy  in  the  hopes  that  God  would  do  a 
great  deal  of  good  by  them;  and  that  their 
spirits  might  be  moderate  and  peaceful. 

"He  often  prayed  that  God  would  be  mer- 
ciful to  this  miserable  and  distracted  world, 
and  that  he  would  preserve  his  church  and 
interest  in  it.  He  advised  his  friends  to^e- 
ware  of  self-conceit,  as  a  sin  that  was  likely 
to  ruin  the  nation  


192 


LIFE  OP  THE 


"I  went  to  him  with  a  very  worthy  friend, 
Mr.  Mather,  of  New  England,  the  day  be- 
fore he  died,  and  speaking  some  comforting 
words  to  him,  he  replied,  *I  have  pain,  there 
is  no  arguing  against  sense,  but  I  have  peace, 
I  have  peace.'  I  said  to  him, '  You  are  now 
approaching  your  long  desired  home,'  he 
answered,  believe,  I  believe.'  He  said  to 
Mr.  Mather,  *  I  bless  God  you  have  accom- 
plished your  business — the  Lord  prolong 
your  life.'  He  expressed  great  willingness 
TO  die  ;  and  during  his  sickness,  when  asked 
how  he  did,  his  reply  was,  ^almost  well.'' 
His  joy  was  most  remarkable,  when  in  his 
own  apprehension  death  was  nearest ;  and 
his  spiritual  joy  "was  at  length  consummated 
in  eternal  joy." 

"On  Monday,"  says  Sylvester,  "death  sent 
his  harbinger  to  summon  him  away.  A 
great  trembhng  and  coldness  extorted  strong 
cries  from  him  for  pity  and  redress  from 
heaven;  which  cries  and  agonies  continued 
for  some  time,till  at  length  he  ceased,  and  lay 
in  patient  expectation  of  his  change!" 

"Being  once  asked  by  his  faithful  friend, 
and  constant  companion,  Mrs.  Bushel,  his 
housekeeper,  whether  he  knew  her  or  not; 


EEV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  193 

requesting  some  sign  of  it,  if  he  did;  he  softly- 
cried  "death,  death."  He  now  felt  the  bene- 
fit-of  his  former  preparations  for  the  trying 
time.  The  last  words  that  he  spake  to  me, 
on  being  informed,  I  was  come  to  see  him, 
were,  ^Oh,  I  thank  him,  I  thank  him;'  and 
turning  his  eye  to  me  said, '  The  Lord  teach 
you  how  to  die.'" 

"  As  to  himself,  even  to  the  last,  I  could 
never  perceive  his  peace  and  heavenly  hopes 
assaulted  or  disturbed.  I  have  often  heard 
him  greatly  lament,  that  he  felt  no  greater 
liveliness  in  what  appeared  so  great  and 
clear  to  him,  and  so  very  much  desired  by 
him.  He  told  me,  he  knew  it  should  be  well 
with  him  when  he  was  gone.  He  wondered 
to  hear  others  speak  of  their  sensible  and 
passionately  strong  desires  to  die,  and  of 
their  comforts  of  spirit,  when  sensible  of 
their  approaching  death;  when,  though  he 
thought  he  knew  as  much  as  they,  and  had 
as  rational  satisfaction  as  they  could  have 
that  his  soul  was  safe,  he  never  could  feel 
their  sensible  consolations.  I  asked  him 
whether  much  of  this  was  not  to  be  resolved 
into  bodily  constitution;  he  told  me  that  he 
thought  it  might  be  so." 

17 


194 


LIFE  OF  THE 


"  He  expired  on  Tuesday  morning,  Decem- 
ber 8th,  1691,  though  he  had  desired  and  ex- 
pected his  dissolution  to  be  on  the  Lord's  day, 
which  with  joy  he  called  a  high  day,  because 
of  his  desired  change,  then  expected  by  him." 

A  wicked  and  groundless  report  was  cir- 
culated after  his  death,  that  he  had  been 
greatly  troubled  with  skeptical  doubts  before 
he  died.  In  regard  to  which  Mr.  Sylvester 
thought  it  expedient  to  contradict  it.  He 
said,  We  know  nothing  here  that  could  in 
the  least  minister  to  such  a  report  as  this.  I 
that  was  with  him  all  along,  have  even  heard 
him  triumphing  in  his  heavenly  expectation, 
and  ever  speaking  like  one  that  could  never 
have  thought  it  worth  man's  while  to  be, 
were  it  not  for  the  great  interests  and  ends  of 
godliness.  He  told  me  that  he  doubted  not 
but  it  would  be  best  for  him,  when  he  had 
left  this  life  and  was  translated  to  the  hea- 
venly regions.'^ 

"  He  owned  what  he  had  written  with  re- 
ference to  the  things  of  God,  to  the  very  last. 
He  advised  those  that  came  near  him,  care- 
fully to  mind  their  soul's  concerns."  "The 
shortness  of  time,  the  importance  of  eternity, 
the  worth  of  souls,  the  riches  of  the  grace  of 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  195 

Christ,  the  excellency  of  a  heavenly  mind 
and  life,  and  the  great  usefulness  of  the 
word  and  means  of  grace,  pursuant  to  his 
eternal  purposes,  ever  lay  pressingly  on  his 
Qwn  heart,  and  extorted  from  him  very  use- 
ful directions  and  encouragements  to  all  that 
came  near  him,  even  to  the  last." 

Baxter  was  buried  in  Christ-church,  where 
the  remains  of  his  wife  and  her  mother  had 
been  deposited.  His  funeral  was  attended 
by  great  numbers  of  different  ranks;  espe- 
ciallj^,  of  ministers,  conformists  and  non-con- 
formists, who  were  eager  to  testify  their  re- 
spect for  one  of  whom  it  might  have  been 
said  with  equal  truth,  as  of  the  intrepid  re- 
former of  the  north,  There  lies  the  man, 
who  never  feared  the  face  of  man." 

His  last  will  is  dated  July  7th,  16S9.  The 
beginning  deserves  to  be  quoted. 

"  I,  Richard  Baxter,  of  London,  clerk,  an 
unworthy  servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  drawing 
to  the  end  of  this  transitory  life,  having 
through  God's  great  mercy,  the  free  use  of 
my  understanding,  do  make  this  my  last  will 
and  testament,  revoking  all  other  Avills  for- 
iperly  made  by  me.  My  spirit  I  commit 
■yyith  hope  and  tr.vst  of  the  heavenly  felicity, 


196 


LIFE  OP  THE 


into  the  hands  of  Jesus,  my  glorified  Re- 
deemer and  Intercessor,  and  by  his  media- 
tion into  the  hands  of  God,  my  reconciled 
Father,  the  infinite,  eternal  Spirit,  light,  life, 
and  love,  most  great,  wise,  and  good,  the 
God  of  nature,  grace,  and  glory;  of  whom, 
through  whom,  and  to  whom  are  all  things; 
my  absolute  owner,  ruler,  benefactor,  whose 
I  am,  and  whom  I,  though  imperfectly, 
serve,  seek,  and  trust;  to  whom  be  glory, 
for  ever,  amen.  To  him  I  render  most  hum- 
ble thanks,  that  he  hath  filled  up  my  life  with 
abundant  mercy,  and  pardoned  my  sin,  by 
the  merit  of  Christ,  and  vouchsafed  by  his 
Spirit  to  renew  and  seal  me  as  his  own,  and 
to  moderate  and  bless  to  me  my  long  suffer- 
ings in  the  flesh,  and  at  last  to  sweeten  them 
by  his  own  interest  and  comforting  approba- 
tion, who  taketh  the  cause  of  love  and  con- 
cord as  his  own,"  &c.  &c. 

He  ordered  his  books  to  be  distributed 
among  poor  scholars.  All  that  remained  of 
his  estate,  after  a  few  legacies  to  his  kindred, 
he  disposed  of  for  the  benefit  of  the  souls  and 
bodies  of  the  poor. 

His  principal  heir  was  his  nephew,  Wil- 
liam Baxter,  a  person  of  considerable  attain- 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  197 


ments  as  a  scholar,  and  an  antiquary.  He 
published  several  works,  which  brought  him 
considerable  fame  as  a  scholar. 

Baxter's  person,  according  to  Sylvester, 
was  tall  and  slender;  and  in  the  latter  part 
of  his  life  he  stooped  very  much.  His  coun- 
tenance was  composed  and  grave,  but  some- 
what incUning  to  smile.  He  had  a  piercing 
eye,  a  very  articulate  speech,  and  his  manners 
were  rather  plain  than  complimentary.  He 
had  a  great  command  over  his  thoughts.  As 
one  expressed  it,  "  He  could  say  what  he 
would,  and  he  could  prove  what  he  said." 

"He  was  a  man  of  clear,  deep,  fixed 
thought;  of  copious  and  well  digested  read- 
ing; of  ready,  free,  and  very  proper  elocu- 
tion, and  aptly  expressive  of  his  own  thoughts 
and  sentiments.  He  was  most  intent  upon 
the  weightiest  and  most  useful  parts  of  learn- 
ing, yet  a  great  lover  of  all  kinds  and  degrees 
thereof.  He  could,  in  preaching,  writing,  con- 
ference, accommodate  himself  to  all  capaci- 
ties. He  had  a  moving  jo^z^^o^,  and  useful 
acrimony  in  his  words;  neither  did  his  ex- 
pressions want  that  emphatical  accent,  which 
the  matter  did  require.  When  he  spoke  of 
weighty  and  soul  concerns,  you  might  find 


198 


LlfE  OF  THE 


his  very  i^pirit  drenched  therein.  He  tvas 
pleasingly  conversible,  save  in  his  study 
hours,  when  he  could  not  bear  with  trivial 
disturbances.  He  was  sparingly  facetious; 
but  never  light  or  frothy.  His  heatt  was 
warm,  his  life  was  blameless,  exemplary,  and 
uniform.  He  was  unmoveable  when  con- 
vinced of  his  duty;  yet  affable  and  conde- 
scending where  there  was  an  opportunity  of 
doing  good.  His  personal  abstinence,  se- 
verities, and  labours,  were  exceeding  great. 
He  kept  his  body  under,  and  always  feared 
pampering  his  flesh  too  much.  His  charity 
was  very  great  in  proportion  to  his  abihties. 
His  purse  was  ever  open  to  the  poor;  when 
the  case  required  it,  he  never  thought  great 
sums  too  much;  and  his  charities  were  not 
confined  to  parties  or  dpinions;^' 

A  few  other  particulars  we  will  extract 
from  Dr.  Bates'  funeral  sermon,  which  will 
assist  in  giving  us  a  full  view  of  this  eminent 
man. 

"  His  prayers  were  an  effusion  of  the  most 
lively,  melting  expressions,  of  his  intimate, 
ardent  affections  to  God.  From  the  abund- 
ance of  his  heart,  his  lips  spoke.  His  soul 
took  wing  for  heaven,  and  rapt  up  the  souls 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  199 

of  Others  with  him.  Never  did  I  see  or  hear 
a  holy  minister  address  himself  to  God  with 
more  reverence  and  humility,  with  respect  to 
his  glorious  greatness;  never  with  more  zeal 
and  fervency,  correspondent  to  the  infinite 
moment  of  his  requests;  nor  with  more  filial 
affiance  in  the  divine  mercy. 

"  In  his  sermons,  there  was  a  rare  union 
of  arguments  and  motives,  to  convince  the 
mind,  and  gain  the  heart.  All  the  fountains 
of  reason  and  persuasion  were  open  to  his 
discerning  eye.  There  was  no  resisting  the 
force  of  his  discourses,  without  denying  rea- 
son and  divine  revelation.  He  had  a  mar- 
vellous felicity  and  copiousness  of  speaking. 
There  was  a  noble  negligence  in  his  style; 
for  his  great  mind  could  not  stoop  to  the  af- 
fected eloquence  of  words.  He  despised  flashy 
oratory;  but  his  expressions  were  clear  and 
powerful;  so  convincing  the  understanding, 
so  entering  into  the  soul,  so  engaging  the  af- 
fections, that  those  were  as  deaf  adders,  who 
were  not  charmed  by  so  wise  a  charmer. 
He  was  animated  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  and 
breathed  celestial  fire,  to  inspire  heat  and 
life  into  dead  sinners,  and  to  melt  the  obdu- 
rate in  their  frozen  tombs. 


200 


LIFE  OF  THE 


"  He  that  was  so  solicitous  for  the  salvation 
of  others,  was  not  Degligeut  of  his  own ;  but 
his  first  care  was  to  prepare  himself  for  hea- 
ven, lu  him  the  virtues  of  the  contemplative 
and  active  life  were  eminentl}^  united.  His 
time  was  spent  in  communion  with  God,  and 
in  charity  to  men:  he  lived  above  the  sen- 
sible world,  and  in  solitude  and  silence  con- 
versed with  God.  The  frequent  and  serious 
meditation  of  eternal  things,  was  the  power- 
ful means  to  make  his  heart  holy  and  hea- 
venly; and  from  thence  his  conversation. 
His  life  was  a  practical  sermon,  a  drawing 
example.  There  was  an  air  of  sanctity  in 
his  mortified  countenance:  his  deportment 
was  becoming  a  stranger  on  earth,  and  a 
citizen  of  heaven.  Humility  is  to  other  graces, 
as  the  morning  star  is  to  the  sun;  that  goes 
before  it,  and  follows  it  in  the  evening.  Hu- 
mility prepares  us  for  the  receiving  of  grace: 
"  God  gives  grace  to  the  humble.'*  And  it 
follows  the  exercise  of  grace:  "not  I,"  says 
the  apostle,  '*  but  the  grace  of  God  in  me." 

"  In  Mr.  Baxter  there  wais  a  rare  union  of 
sublime  knowledge,  and  other  spiritual  excel- 
lencies, with  the  lowest  opinion  of  himself. 
To  one  who  had  sent  him  a  letter  full  of 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  201 


expressions  of  honour  and  esteem,  he  said, 
^  You  admire  one  whom  you  do  not  know; 
knowledge  will  cure  your  error.  The  more 
we  know  God,  the  more  reason  we  see  to 
admire  him ;  but  the  knowledge  of  the  crea- 
ture lessens  our  esteem.'  To  the  same  per- 
son, expressing  his  veneration  for  his  excel- 
lent gifts  and  graces,  he  replied  with  warmth, 
have  the  remainder  of  pride  in  me;  how 
dare  you  blow  up  the  sparks  of  it?^  He 
desired  some  ministers  to  meet  at  his  house 
and  spend  a  day  in  prayer,  for  his  direction 
in  a  matter  of  moment.  Before  the  duty 
was  begun,  he  said,  '  I  have  desired  your 
assistance  at  this  time,  because  I  believe  God 
will  sooner  hear  your  prayers  than  mine.' 
He  imitated  Augustine,  both  in  his  peniten- 
tial confessions  and  retractions.  In  conjunc- 
tion with  humility,  he  had  great  candour  for 
others.  He  was  severe  to  himself,  but  can- 
did in  excusing  the  faults  of  others;  whereas 
the  busy  inquirer  into  the  faults  of  others,  is 
usually  the  easy  neglecter  of  his  own. 

"  Self-denial  and  contempt  of  the  world 
were  shining  graces  in  him.  I  never  knew 
any  person  less  indulgent  to  himself,  and 
more  indifferent  to  his  temporal  interest. 


202 


tiFE  OT  THE 


The  offer  of  a  bishopric  was  no  temptation 
to  him;  for  his  exalted  soul  despised  the 
pleasures  and  profits,  which  others  so  ear- 
nestly desire.  He  valued  not  an  empty  title 
on  his  tomb. 

"  His  patience  was  truly  Christian.  God 
does  often  try  his  children  by  affliction,  to 
exercise  their  graces,  to  occasion  their  vic- 
tory, and  to  entitle  them  to  a  triumphant 
felicity.  This  saint  was  tried  with  many 
afflictions.  We  are  very  tender  of  our  repu- 
tation; his  name  was  obscured  under  a  cloud 
of  detraction.  Many  slanderous  darts  were 
thrown  at  him;  he  was  charged  with  schism 
and  sedition.  It  is  true,  the  censures  and 
reproaches  of  others  whom  he  esteemed  and 
loved,  touched  him  in  the  tender  part;  but 
he,  with  the  great  apostle,  accounted  it  a 
small  thing  to  be  judged  by  men.  But  his 
patience  was  more  tried  by  his  continual 
pains  and  languishing.  Martyrdom  is  a 
more  easy  way  of  dying,  when  the  combat 
and  the  victory  are  finished  at  once,  than  to 
die  by  degrees  every  day.  His  complaints 
were  frequent,  but  who  ever  heard  an  un- 
submissive word  drop  from  his  lips }  In  his 
sharp  pains  he  said,  '  I  have  a  rational  pa- 


REV.  RICHARl)  BAXTER.  203 

tience  and  a  believing  patience,  though  sense 
would  recoil.' 

"  His  peaceful  spirit  was  a  clear  character 
of  his  being  a  child  of  God.  How  ardently 
he  desired  to  cement  the  breaches  among  us, 
which  others  widen  and  keep  open,  is  pub- 
licly known.  He  said  to  a  friend,  *  I  can  as 
willingly  be  a  martyr  for  love,  as  for  any 
article  of  the  creed.' 

"  Love  to  the  souls  of  men  was  the  pecu- 
liar character  of  Mr.  Baxter's  spirit.  In  this 
he  imitated  and  honoured  our  Saviour,  who 
prayed,  died,  and  lives  for  the  salvation  of 
souls.  All  his  natural  and  supernatural  en- 
dowments Were  made  subservient  to  this  end. 
It  was  his  meat  and  drink,  the  life  and  joy 
of  his  life,  to  do  good  to  the  souls  of  men. 
His  industry  in  his  studies  was  almost  incre- 
dible. He  had  a  sensitive  nature,  as  desirous 
of  ease  as  others,  and  faint  faculties,  yet  such 
was  his  continual  application  to  his  great 
work,  as  if  the  labour  of  one  day  had  sup- 
plied strength  for  another,  and  the  willing- 
ness of  the  spirit  had  supported  the  weakness 
of  the  flesh." 

After  this  extended  description  of  his  cha- 
racterj  by  such  a  man  as  Bates,  who  had  been 


204 


LIFE  OF  THE 


long  and  intimately  acquainted  with  him, 
there  is  need  of  little  to  be  added.  "  I  will 
notice  only/'  says  the  judicious  Orme,"  what 
I  conceive  to  have  been  one  great  leading 
feature  of  his  character.  In  describing  this, 
I  have  no  better  or  more  appropriate  term 
to  employ,  than  the  word  unearthly;  and 
even  this  is  inadequate  to  express  all  that 
was  absent  from,  and  all  that  belonged  to  his 
character  as  a  Christian,  a  pastor,  and  a  di- 
vine. Among  his  contemporaries  there  were 
men  of  equal  talents,  of  more  amiable  dispo- 
sitions, and  of  greater  learning;  but  there 
was  no  man  in  whom  there  appears  to  have 
been  so  little  of  earth,  and  so  much  of  hea- 
ven; so  small  a  portion  of  the  alloy  of  huma- 
nity, and  so  large  a  portion  of  all  that  is 
celestial.  He  felt  scarcely  any  of  the  attrac- 
tion of  this  world,  but  felt  and  manifested 
the  most  perfect  affinity  for  the  world  to 
come. 

The  strength  and  operations  of  his  prin- 
ciples appeared  in  all  the  workings  of  his 
mind,  and  in  every  part  of  his  personal  con- 
duct as  a  Christian.  It  was  manifested  in 
the  intense  ardour  of  his  zeal,  and  the  burn- 
ing fervour  of  his  preaching.    It  was  mani- 


REV.  RICHARP  BAXTER.  205 

fest  in  his  triumph  over  the  weakness  and 
infirmities  of  his  diseased  body;  in  his  supe- 
riority to  the  blandishments  and  charities  of 
life,  when  they  interfered  with  his  work; 
and  in  his  equal  regardlessness  of  shame  and 
suffering,  reward  or  honour,  where  the  ser- 
vice of  Christ,  and  the  good  of  men  were 
concerned. 

Influenced  by  this  principle  he  threw  him- 
self into  the  army,  to  check  what  he  consi- 
dered its  wild  career.  He  reproved  Crom- 
well; expostulated  with  Charles,  and  dared 
the  frown  of  both.  The  same  motive  induc- 
ed him  to  abstain  from  marriage,  while  his 
work  required  all  his  attention.  For  him  a 
bishopric  had  no  charms,  and  a  prison  no 
terrors,  when  he  could  not  enjoy  the  one 
with  a  good  conscience,  and  was  doomed  to 
the  other  for  conscience  sake.  He  stood  un- 
appalled  before  the  bar  of  Jefferies,  listening 
with  composure  to  his  ribaldry;  and  would 
have  gone  to  the  gibbet  or  the  stake  without 
a  murmur  or  complaint.  His  very  impru- 
dences seem  to  have  arisen  from  the  excess 
in  which,  compared  with  others,  this  princi- 
ple existed  in  him.  He  seems  scarcely  to 
have  understood  the  meaning  of  the  word 


206 


LIFE  OF  THE 


prudence;  and  in  so  far  as  it  is  allied  to 
worldly  wisdom  he  knew  it  not.  To  him, 
conscience  and  the  law  of  God  were  the  rule 
of  duty,  not  utility,  or  the  hope  of  success. 
There  was  no  possibility  of  influencing  him 
by  the  hope  of  reward,  or  the  fear  of  disap- 
pointment. Consequences  seldom  entered 
into  his  calculations.  He  would  not  be  de- 
terred from  preaching  a  sermon,  writing  a 
book,  or  making  a  speech,  if  duty  seemed  to 
require  it,  by  all  the  entreaties  of  his  breth- 
ren, or  the  threatening  of  his  enemies.  The 
favour  and  the  frown  of  God  he  alone  re- 
garded, and  by  their  irresistible  influence  he 
was  carried  fearlessly  onward  to  eternity. 

The  nicety  of  many  of  his  distinctions, 
and  the  scrupuloshy  of  his  conscience,  arose, 
not  merely  from  the  metaphysical  character 
of  his  mind,  but  from  its  high  spirituality. 
His  conscience,  like  the  sensitive  plant, 
shrunk  from  every  touch,  thai  was  calculat- 
ed, however  remotely,  to  aff"ect  it.  On  this 
account,  he  could  not  subscribe  what  he  did 
not  understand;  he  could  not  profess  to  be- 
lieve, when  he  had  not  suflicient  evidence; 
he  could  not  promise  to  obey,  if  he  did  not 
intend  to  perform;  or  if  he  questioned  the 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  207 

right  to  command.  He  was  not  a  quibbling 
sophist,  who  dehghted  to  perplex  and  entan- 
gle, but  a  Christian  casuist,  alive  to  the  au- 
thority of  God,  and  concerned  only  to  know 
and  do  his  will. 

In  the  high  toned  character  of  Baxter's 
religion,  we  are  furnished  with  an  illustrious 
instance  of  the  efficacious  grace  of  God.  It 
was  this  which  made  him  all  that  he  was, 
and  effected  by  him  what  he  did.  No  man 
would  have  been  more  disposed  than  himself 
to  magnify  its  richness,  its  freeness,  and  its 
power.  Whatever  mistakes  may  be  sup- 
posed to  belong  to  his  theological  creed,  they 
affected  not  his  view  of  this  principle  in  the 
Divine  administration,  or  his  experience  of 
its  power.  But  grace  blessed  him  not  only 
in  bestowing  pardon  and  inducing  its  accep- 
tance, but  by  producing  conformity  of  cha- 
racter to  God,  and  meetness  for  the  enjoy- 
ment of  heaven;  this  he  cultivated  and  ex- 
perienced in  an  eminent  degree.  During 
more  than  half  a  century,  he  adorned,  by 
every  Christian  virtue,  the  doctrine  of  God, 
his  Saviour,  and  died  cherishing  the  deepest 
humility  and  self-abasement,  yet  rejoicing  in 
hope  of  the  glory  of  God. 


208 


LIFE  OF  THE 


In  Studying  the  character  of  Baxter,  then, 
while  I  would  do  honour  to  the  man,  and 
justice  to  his  talents;  while  I  would  speak  in 
the  strongest  terms  of  his  genius  and  his  elo- 
quence; while  I  would  venerate  him  as  the 
leader  of  the  noble  army  of  non-conformist 
confessors,  whose  labours  and  sufferings 
have  secured  to  them  a  deathless  renown,  I 
would  above  all  contemplate  him  as  the 
man  of  God,  strong  in  faith,  rich  in  the 
fruits  of  love,  and  adorned  with  the  beauties 
of  holiness.  In  these  respects,  he  had  pro- 
bably, few  equals,  and  no  superiors,  even  in 
an  age  when  eminent  characters  were  not 
rare.  But  what  God  did  for  him  he  can  do 
for  others;  and  what  a  world  might  this  be, 
were  every  country  furnished  with  but  a 
few  such  men  as  Richard  Baxter! 

After  giving  so  high  a  character  of  Mr. 
Baxter,  as  a  Christian,  a  pastor,  and  a  prac- 
tical writer,  it  is  proper  to  admonish  the 
reader,  that  in  doctrinal  theology  he  is  by  no 
means  a  safe  guide.  He  attempted  what 
others  before  him  had  essayed,  but  which  is 
incapable  of  being  accomplished;  the  recon- 
ciliation of  the  Arminian  and  Calvinistic 
theories;  or  rather,  to  take  a  stand  between 


EEV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  209 

these  two  systems  and  to  secure  the  advan- 
tages of  each.  This  theory,  for  a  while  had 
many  admirers;  and  also  was  much  opposed 
under  the  name  of  Baxterianism.  But 
those  who  have  studied  this  subject  most 
profoundly,  have  been  convinced,  that  Cal- 
vinism is  a  system  complete  in  itself;  so  that 
the  consistent  theologian  must  adopt  it  en- 
tire, or  reject  it  wholly;  and  that  the  princi- 
ples on  which  Arminianism  is  adopted,  must, 
if  pursued,  lead  to  pure  Pelagianism.  There 
is,  however,  very  little  in  Baxter's  practical 
writings,  which  is  not  consistent  with  ortho- 
doxy; and  these  are  the  only  works  of  this 
great  man  which  are  likely  to  be  read  here- 
after, as  no  others  are  included  in  the  new 
edition  of  his  works,  lately  published,  in 
octavo,  and  extending  to  more  than  twenty 
volumes.  There  are,  however,  in  parts  of 
these,  some  curious  and  strange  opinions; 
but  they  are  not  such  as  are  likely  to  be 
adopted  in  the  present  age.  This  edition 
may  therefore  be  recommended  to  the  pious 
reader,  as  comprehending  a  vast  body  of 
practical  and  casuistical  theology,  suited  to 
Christians  in  every  condition  of  life. 

The  judicious  and  very  interesting  "  Re- 
18 


210 


LIFE  OF  THE 


view  which  Orme  has  given  of  the  writings 
of  Baxter,  and  which  forms  the  second  part 
of  his  work,  occupies  nearly  four  hundred 
pages  in  large  Svo.  Of  this  we  have  no 
room  for  even  a  compend;  but  will  insert 
the  catalogue  of  Baxter's  writings,  furnished 
by  Mr.  Ortne,  and  annexed  to  his  "Review." 

CATALOGUE  OF  BAXTER'S  WRITINGS. 

1.  Aphorisms  of  JustiScalion,  1649. 

2.  The  Saiiu's  Everlasiing  Rest,  1649. 

3.  Plain  Scripture  Proof  of  Infantile  Church- 

membership  and  Baptism,  1650. 

4.  Animadversions  on  a  Tract,  by  Mr.  Thomas 

Bedford,  1652. 

5.  A  Friendly  Accommodation  of  the  Contro- 

versy with  Mr.  Bedford,  1652. 

6.  Tombs'  Precursor,  Stayed  and  Examined, 

1652. 

7.  Letters  between  Mr.  Baxter  and  Mr.  Tombs, 

1652. 

8.  The  right  Method  for  Peace  of  Conscience, 

1653. 

9.  Richard  Baxter's  judgment  of  the  Persever- 

ance of  Believers,  1653. 

10.  Christian  Concord;  or  the  Agreement  of  the 

Associated  Pastors  and  Churches  of  Wor- 
cestershire, 1653. 

11.  The  Worcester  Petition  to  Parliament,  1653. 

12.  The  Petition  Defended,  1653. 

13.  True  Christianity.    Two  Assize  Sermons, 

1654. 

14.  Richard  Baxter's  Apology — Reasons  of  Dis- 

sent from  Mr.  Blake,  <$cc.  1654. 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  211 


15.  Richard  Baxter's  Reduction  of  a  Digressor 

in  Reply  to  Kendal,  1654. 

16.  Admonition  to  Eyre,  1654. 

17.  Crandon  Anatomized,  1654. 

18.  Confutation  of  Lewis  Molinaeus,  1654. 

19.  Confession  of  Faith,  1655. 

20.  Humble  advice  to  the  Members  of  Parlia- 

ment, 1655. 

21.  Making  light  of  Christ,  1655. 

22.  Of  Judgment.    A  Sermon,  1655. 

23.  The  Quaker's  Catechism,  1655. 

24.  The  Unreasonableness  of  Infidelity,  1655. 

25.  Gildas  Salvianus ;  or  the  Reformed  Pastor, 

1656. 

26.  The  Agreement  of  the  Worcestershire  Min- 

isters for  Catechising,  1656. 

27.  Certain  Disputations  of  Right  to  the  Sacra- 

ments, 1656. 

28.  The    Safe    Religion — Three  Disputations 

against  Popery,  1657. 

29.  A  Treatise  of  Conversion,  1657. 

30.  A  Winding  Sheet  for  Popery,  1657. 

31.  A  Sheet  for  the  Ministry  against  Malignants, 

1657. 

32.  A  Sheet  against  the  Quakers,  1657. 

33.  A  Second  Sheet  for  the  Ministry,  1657. 

34.  A  Sheet — Of  the  Duties  of  Justices  in  Cor- 

porations, towards  God. 

35.  A  Call  to  the  Unconverted,  1657. 

36.  Crucifying  the  World  by  the  Cross,  1658. 

37.  A  Saving  Faith,  1658. 

38.  Confirmation  and  Restoration,  1658. 

39.  Directions  and  Persuasions  to  a  Sound  Con- 

version, 1658. 

40.  Disputations  of  Church  Government,  1658. 

41.  The  Judgment,  &c.  of  the  Associated  Mem- 


212 


LIFE  OF  THE 


bers  of  Worcestershire,  in  reference  to 

Dury,  1658. 
42.  Four  Disputations  on  Justification,  1658. 
4'^.  Universal  Concord,  1658. 

44.  The  Grotian  Religion  Discovered,  1658. 

45.  Key  for  Catholics,  1659. 

46.  Holy  Commonwealih,  1659. 

47.  A  Treatise  of  Death.    A  Funeral  Sermon, 

1659. 

48.  A  Treatise  of  Self-denial,  1659. 

49.  Catholic  Unity,  1659. 

50.  True  Catholic,  and  Catholic  Church,  1659. 

51.  A  Sermon  of  Repentance,  before  the  House 

of  Commons,  1659. 

52.  A  Sermon  of  Right  Rejoicing,  before  the 

Lord  Mayor,  1659. 

53.  Life  of  Faith.  A  Sermon  before  the  King,l  659. 

54.  Successive  Visibility  of  the  Church,  1659. 

55.  Vain  Religion  of  the  Hypocrite,  1659. 

56.  The  Fool's  Prosperity,' 1659. 

57.  The  Last  Work  of  a  Believer,  1659. 

58.  The  Petition  to  the  Bishops  for  Peace,  1661. 

59.  The  Reformed  Liturgy,  1661. 

60.  Mischiefs  of  Self-ignorance,  &c.  1662. 

61.  Baxter's  Account  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Kid- 

derminster, of  the  cause  of  his  being  forbid 
to  preach,  1662. 

62.  A  Saint  or  a  Brute,  1662. 

63.  Now  or  Never,  1663. 

64.  Fair  Warning;  twenty-five  Reasons  against 

the  toleration  of  Popery,  1663. 

65.  Divine  Life,  1664. 

66.  Two  Sheets  for  Poor  Families,  1665. 

67.  A  Sheet  for  the  Instruction  of  the  Sick  dur- 

ing the  Plague,  1665. 

68.  Reasons  lor  the  Christian  Religion,  1667. 

69.  Directions  to  the  Converted,  1669. 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  213 


70.  The  Life  of  Faith,  1670. 

71.  Cure  of  Church  Divisions,  1670. 

72.  Defence  of  the  Principles  of  Love,  1671. 

73.  Divine  Appointment  of  the  Lord's  Day,  1671. 

74.  Duty  of  Heavenly  Meditation,  1671. 

75.  Holiness  the  Design  of  Christianity,  1671. 

76.  The  Power  of  Magistrates  and  Church  Pas- 

tors, 1671. 

77.  God's  Goodness  Vindicated,  1671. 

78.  Second  Admonition  of  Mr.E.  Bagshaw,  1671. 

79.  More  Reasons  for  the  Christian  Religion, 

1672. 

80.  Sacrilegious  Desertion  of  the  Holy  Ministry 

rebuked,  1672. 

81.  Certainty  of  Christianity  without  Popery, 

1672. 

82.  The  Church  told  of  Mr.  E.  Bagshaw's  Scan- 

dals, J  672. 

83.  Christian  Directory,  folio,  1673. 

84.  Full  and  Easy  Satisfaction  as  to  the  True 

Religion,  1674. 

85.  Poor  Man's  Family  Book,  1674. 

86.  An  Appeal  to  the  Light;  a  Sermon,  Eph.  i. 

3,  1674. 

87.  Catholic  Theology,  folio,  1675. 

88.  More  Proofs  of  Infants'  Church  Membership, 

1675. 

89.  Two  Disputations  of  Original  Sin,  1675. 

90.  Select  Arguments  against  Popery,  1675. 

91.  Treatise  on  Justifying  Righteousness,  1675. 

92.  Answer  to  Dr.  Tullie's  Angry  Letter,  1675. 

93.  Substance  of  Mr.  Cartwright's  Exceptions 

considered,  1675. 

94.  Christ,  not  the  Pope,  the  Universal  Head  of 

the  Church,  1675. 

95.  Reasons  for  Ministerial  Plainness  and  Fide- 

lity, 1676. 


214 


LIFE  OP  THE 


96.  A  Review  of  the  State  of  Christian  Infants, 

1676. 

97.  Jiulgment  of  non-conformists  on  the  office  of 

Reason  in  Religion,  1676. 

98.  Judgment    of  non-conformisls  respecting 

Grace  and  Morality,  1676. 

99.  Judgment  of  non-conformists  of  things  indif- 

ferent, commanded  by  authority,  1676. 

100.  About  Things  Sinful  by  accident',  1676. 

101.  What  mere  non-conformity  is  not,  1676. 

102.  Roman  Transubstaniiation,  1676. 

103.  Naked  Popery,  1677. 

104.  Funeral  Sermon  for  Henrv  Stiibbs,  1678. 

105.  Which  is  the  True  Church,  1679. 

106.  The  Non-conformists'  Plea  for  Peace,  1679. 

107.  Funeral  Sermon  for  Mrs.  Marv  Cox,  16S0. 

108.  The  True  and  Only  Way  of  Concord,  1680. 

109.  Defence  of  the  Non-conformists'  Plea,  1680. 

110.  Second  Part  of  Non-conformists' Plea,  1680. 

111.  A  Moral  Prognostication,  1680. 

112.  Church  History  of  the  Government  of  Bish- 

ops, 1680. 

113.  Answer  to  Dr.  Siillingdeel's  Charge  of  Sep- 

aration, 1680. 

114.  Treatise  of  Episcopacy,  1681. 

115.  Funeral  Sermon  for  Henrv  Ashurst,  Esq. 

1681. 

116.  Poetical  Fragments,  1681. 

117.  Apology  for  the  Non-conforraists*  Ministry. 

1681. 

118.  Methodus  Theologix  Christianap,  folio,  1681. 
110.  Universal  Human  Church  Supremacy,  1681. 

120.  Baxter's  Dissent  from  Dr.  Sherlock. 'l681. 

121.  A  Search  for  the  English  Schismatic,  1681. 

122.  Third  Defence  of  the"  Cause  of  Peace,  1681. 

123.  A  Second  Defence  of  the  mere  Non-con- 

formisls, 1681. 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER.  215 


124.  A  Breviate  of  the  Life  of  Mrs.  Margaret 

Baxter,  1681. 

125.  Answer  to  Mr.  DodweU's  Letter,  1682. 

126.  A  Specimen  of  the  Present  Mode  of  Contro- 

versy in  England,  in  Reply  to  L'Eslrange, 
1682. 

127.  The  True  History  of  Councils  enlarged  and 

Defended,  1682. 

128.  Funeral  Sermon  for  Mr.  John  Corbet,  1682. 

129.  Immortality  of  Man's  Soul,  1682. 

130.  Nature  of  Spirits,  1682. 

131.  Cure  of  Melancholy,  Sermon,  1682. 

132.  Compassionate  Counsel  to  Young  Men,  1682. 

133.  How  to  do  good  to  many,  1682. 

134.  Family  Catechism,  1683. 

135.  Additions  to  Poetical  Fragments,  1683. 

136.  Obedient  Patience,  1683. 

137.  Farewell  Sermon — Intended  to  have  been 

preached  at  Kidderminster,  but  forbidden, 
1683. 

138.  Richard  Baxter's  Dying  Thoughts,  1683. 

139.  Dangerous  Schismatic  Detected  and  Con- 

futed, 1683. 

140.  Second  Part  against  Schism  and  against  Mr. 

Raphson,  1683. 

141.  Survey  of  the  Reply  to  Mr.  Humphrey,  1683. 

142.  Catholic  Communion  Defended,  1684. 

143.  Answer  to  Dr.  Owen's  Arguments  against 

that  Practice,  1684. 

144.  Whether  Parish  Congregations  be  true  Chris- 

tian Churches,  1684. 

145.  A  Short  Answer  to  *  A  Theological  Dia- 

logue,' 1684. 

146.  Catholic   Communion   Doubly  Defended, 

1684. 

147.  Judgment  of  Sir  Matthew  Hale  of  the  Na- 

ture of  Religion,  1684. 


216 


LIFE  OF  BAXTER. 


148.  Uniim  Necessarium,  1685. 

149.  A  Paraphrase  on  the  New  Testament,  1685. 

150.  Richard  Baxter's  Sense  of  the  Subscribed 

Articles,  1689. 

151.  English  Non-conformity,  under  Charles  II. 

and  James  II.  1689. 

152.  Knowledge  and  Love  compared,  1689. 
J53.  Cain  and  Abel's  Malignity,  1689. 

154.  Scripture  Gospel  Defended,  1690. 

155.  Defence  of  Christ  and  Free  Grace,  1690. 

156.  End  of  Doctrinal  Controversies,  169 J. 

157.  Glorious  Kingdom  of  Christ  against  Thomas 

Beverly,  1691. 

158.  Reply  to  Mr.  Thomas  Beverly,  1691. 

159.  Of  National  Churches,  1691. 

160.  Against  Revolt  to  a  Foreign  Jurisdiction, 

1691. 

161.  Richard  Baxter's  Penitent  Confession  and 

necessary  Vindication,  1691. 

162.  Certainty  of  the  World  of  Spirits,  evinced 

by  Unquestionable  Histories  of  Appari- 
tions, 1691. 

163.  Protestant  Religion  truly  stated  and  justified, 

1692. 

164.  Paraphrase  of  the  Psalms  of  David,  1692. 

165.  Treatise  of  Universal  Redemption,  1694. 

166.  Reliqnise  Baxterianae,  fol.  1696. 

167.  Monthly  Preparations  for  the  Holy  Commu- 

nion, 1696. 

168.  The  Mother's  Catechism,  1701. 


THE  E^D 


